Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 09, 2018 2:00 am Title: Chapter 14

And the award for the best line in fanfiction goes to YOU.

“You’re right, I don’t fuck my friends.  But if you look up the definition of a friend, Justin, you’ll learn that it means someone who is a buddy.  A pal.  A fucking companion.  Try looking this word up instead; venerate.  Let me know when you know what it means.”

 

That was so perfectly Brian, and urgh, I just love this so much. These boys are both hurting, I need to comfort them, i want to jump through my computer and hug them both :(

Author's Response:

Wow... that's one hell of a compliment, hon, so thank you!! 

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 09, 2018 1:11 am Title: Chapter 12

As sly as it was using Gus to get to Justin, he needed it. He needed to see that little boy again and remember what it was like to love and feel loved. You're killing me with this, but I kinda love you for it.

Author's Response:

LOl, I get that a lot, too. But I agree - he needed Gus. 

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 09, 2018 12:33 am Title: Chapter 10

I hope Alex can help them. Brian knows he fucked up and he'll continue to hear all the shitty things he did wrong, but he wants to make them right, RIGHT? I love how fiercely protective Daphne is, she's like an angry mama bear, and he needs someone like that on his side. Same with Ethan and Sam, but Daphne, she's got him. He's safe with her.

Author's Response:

Yes, he is safe with Daph. ;)

Reviewer: The SNO Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 5:05 pm Title: Chapter 18

The family will have to work on how to manage to get close to Justin again.

It's great that Gus' influence was the key point for Justin to get close to someone, to initiate the touching and not reject it.

I hope Justin will hear what Brian told him at the end.

Author's Response:

Thanks, hon. xx 

Reviewer: Tena Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 1:45 pm Title: Chapter 18

I think you have made me experience every emotion humanly possible with this story but especially this chapter. And, I want more. Excellent chapter. 

Author's Response:

Thanks, Tena. x 

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 1:55 am Title: Chapter 8

FUCKING, MICHAEL, seriously. He is so self-righteous. He was told to stay away, but nooo, he knows better.

Author's Response:

He's learning - at the pace of a freaking turtle - but he's learning. 

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 1:29 am Title: Chapter 6

I love Alex, and omg, you're making SO MUCH SENSE. I am glad he admitted he loved Justin, of course, he does, and Alex is right, Justin will need to get to know the sweet, unselfish Brian that lurks within. The one he doesn't let people see.

Author's Response:

*Grins* I've had that a lot - people saying that they had never looked at a particular scene the way I have. I'm really glad you are enjoying this, hon. xx

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 1:12 am Title: Chapter 5

This was beautiful. I so want to go to sleep right now as it's so late, but I am making a cup of tea and I am going to keep on reading. I may regret this in the morning LOL.

I love how you have Debbie being there for Brian, she knows he needs someone right now. And Mel's gesture at the end was so lovely. My heart is aching, and it's all because of how Michael was a DUMB ASS in this. Don't get me wrong, Brian isn't innocent in this, but Michael made everything 100 times worse.

Author's Response:

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who reads and reads and reads and then looks at the clock and goes "oh, shit, it's 3 am!!"  And yes, Michael will continue to be the definition of 'insert foot here...mind you teeth'

Reviewer: SunshineSally Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 12:32 am Title: Chapter 3

I'm so happy he has Ethan, Sam, and Daphne. And so angry the family just forgot about him so easily :(

Author's Response:

I'm glad you like his little family. ;)

Reviewer: BlueMyst Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 08, 2018 12:03 am Title: Chapter 18

Justin admitting he needs help and checking himself in the hospital is a start, a slow start but the start of Justin finding himself and becoming stronger.

Alex did good by letting Brian have that moment with Justin, it was what they should've had before when everyone kept Brian away and blamed him for Chris Hobbs' anger and jealousy.

Deb would do good to not push Michael on anyone right now cause he is Persona Non Grata as far as Justin and Brian are concerned.

Brian should continue his sessions with Alex so he can be ready for Justin when he asks to see him.

Perhaps Alex might want to have one on one sessions with Brian and a member of the family, they continued the abuse his parents already started??

Good Chapter it got me all teary-eyed. Thanks :)

 

 

Author's Response:

Thanks, doll; and yes, it is a slow start, but this wouldn't punch as hard as it did, I think, if it was all over within two chapters. Real life doesn't work that way. 

Reviewer: mamab Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 07, 2018 11:14 pm Title: Chapter 18

Thank goodness it is a start toward Justin becoming himself again.  This better have a happy ending.  I am running thru boxes of tissues.  Your writing is amazing.

Author's Response:

Thanks, hon, that means a lot. xx

Reviewer: The SNO Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 01, 2018 8:51 pm Title: Chapter 17

Another punch in the guts, but Justin is on the way up now; it will take time and some bumps, but he is going towards the light.

Great chapter!

Author's Response:

Thanks, hon. xx

Reviewer: NoChaser Signed [Report This]
Date: Mar 01, 2018 5:49 am Title: Chapter 17

This is a very, very powerful chapter. My emotions have been on edge, for various reasons, for a long time now and you've helped open the flood gates. Thanks. I think. (Oh, god, another looonnng comment a-comin'. I'm in a Michael hating mood right now.)

I write, almost entirely, Justin-centric stories. Almost without exception, the Justin I write is strong and self-assured, in charge of his life even when he isn't, filled with an assurance of his own worth that is bottomless. Because that's how I *need* Justin to be. It's strange how we glom onto one character in a tale and adopt them into our fantastical psychological family, make them our brother, sister, child... self... when we recognize something in that character that we identify with because they remind us of who we are or aren't or want to be. That's Justin for me, and I want to crap on anyone who goes out of their way to hurt him. ;)

And this Justin is one hell of a strong Justin. We sometimes forget that the strongest among us are often also the most fragile among us, too. They've faced fires that would consume others and still remain on their feet, but not without scars. Sometimes that strength can bring one to the very edge. Justin is doing here what Brian never had the courage to do - face his demons. Brian is beginning, but like a functional alcoholic, hitting rock bottom for him is a longer process. Until he does, until he fully faces the very demons that helped create this situation, he'll still just be in pain management mode.

And DAMN MICHAEL! I want to hurt him sooo badly. He can't just have a psychological come-to-Jesus, an "Oh, God, What Have I Done!" moment and be forgiven. People like Michael, the manipulators, the *cruel* manipulators, only really understand real-world consequences. Their psychological eureka moments are fleeting, ones they'll forget the next time their pathological need for whatever selfish want they have comes along. They need a good real-world beat down. He's forgiven the most horrible things time and time again because, hey, that's just Michael being Michael. Grrrr... Yes, the rest of the ‘family' was horrible to Justin and should have to suffer, as well, but Michael set this up. Cruelly, viciously and probably gleefully.

Whew, guess I needed to get that off my chest. (I love love love this story. You are tipping my angst meter and I so needed that.)

Author's Response:

Hi, honey. 

We sometimes forget that the strongest among us are often also the most fragile among us, too. They've faced fires that would consume others and still remain on their feet, but not without scars.

I'm so glad that you picked up on that - yes, Justin is fragile atm - broken in so many ways.  But he's still stumbling along his path.  He'll fall, but he'll also pick himself back up, dust off the dirt, and keep stumbling along, with or without Brian.

Sometimes that strength can bring one to the very edge. Justin is doing here what Brian never had the courage to do - face his demons.

See above, and I'll also say, that Justin was always the stronger of the two.  Brian is finding his own brand of courage, but as you said below, he isn't there yet.  He has pieces of the new Brian puzzle that he is putting together, but has yet to find them all.

Brian is beginning, but like a functional alcoholic, hitting rock bottom for him is a longer process. Until he does, until he fully faces the very demons that helped create this situation, he'll still just be in pain management mode.

He's still in free fall - he just doesn't know it yet.  His rock bottom moment will come.