I can totally see why YOU loved this chapter...I LOVED it too!

The whole bonding with Carlisle part...the coins...then Emmett...

LOVED Edward *making friends and playing nice* with the young wolves...

That line:  Did you promise him your firstborn?

Too funny!

Thanks so much for sharing...this was great!

Definitely gets a 10 on the rating scale!

Kathie

I really like this chapter.  I think the Bella/Carlisle interaction adds a lot to the story.

LOL LOVED IT... as usual =] because your writing is just impeccable like that... Good job!

AWESOME chapter...you had me laughing so much!!

Don’t let his ‘Good Doctor,’ routine fool you, Bella, he’s as bad as the rest of us when he wants to be…”

I’ll carve it out of the stick that you finally pulled out of Edward’s ass to make him a bit more likable these days.”

 

and the coin thing is a very wonderful idea... It was so nice to read that edward dragged bellas coin around everywhere :)  sniff sniff...

I absolutely LOVE the coin idea. I think that's such a beautiful thought and it seems very much like something Carlisle would do. And, of course he would give Bella the two coins to share with Edward. I had tears in my eyes reading that section, even through Emmett's debauchery -- in part because of his own sweetness.

I adore the way you write Bella and Edward together, giving them room to breathe with their history and not sidestepping the important issues... Yet they still are able to have their moments as carefree lovers. I thrive in those moments.

As ever, I love every word on the page and eagerly await the ones yet to be written.

This is so great and so sweet..........Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait for the wedding!

this was a great chapter and a beautiful story s far.

 

i loved the bella/carlisle/emmett scene. i think you write the characters amazingly well - s. meyer would be proud!

 

will be waiting with bated breath for your next update!

I absolutely love this story!

Truly the loveliest of all the chapters you've written so far.  I wish you could see how I'm grinning right now.  The beauty of your writing is astounding, and I am continually amazed at how well you draw out these characters' complex relationships with each other.  Usually I can't wait for Edward and Bella interation, but during the first 2/3rds of this chapter I was so completely drawn into her bonding moment with Carlisle that I was sad to see it end.  How fortunate Bella is to have someone like Carlisle in her life--how lucky they all are!  He is an example of true goodness for us all.  My heart wept at the idea of his centuries of loneliness, and yet he remarkably drew me out of my meloncholy by saying if it all hadn't happened as it did he might not have the happiness he's been blessed with.  Too true!  Pain and suffering, love and elation...these are not unique to B&E.  Everyone can relate on some level.  Anyway, superlatives aside, I particularly enjoyed the history behind the wall of coins, Edward's carrying of Bella's birth year quater, Emmett's offering to make a box, the poke at Edward's dislike of sharing (brilliant!), and then the reunion of B&E on the bed.  I can't wait for the next chapter!! 

I had to stop reading after the Gibran quote just to tell you that I love that quote, The Prophet is one of my fave reads and helps put things in perspective when I need it. Glad you included a my favorite line from it! Okay back to reading!

I loved what you did with Charlie and jake!  You have taken things to a new level!  Thanks and please write more!

I have to admit that I thought the motorcylce line was a little over the top until I read it in context as ROSALIE'S line. How great. It was hilarious and very well-placed. I like that a lot.

I also really like the idea of Bella turning the tables on Edward in terms of who is in control of whether or not/ when they get married. It's refreshing to see her step up to the plate this way.

I'm glad that both Charlie and Jacob called each other out on their mistakes. I think it was fair for Jacob to point out that Charlie had encouraged him before and give Charlie the chance to address how he felt the situation had changed.

The conversation with Jacob and Bella I thought was very nicely done. It was nice to see him not be so GD stubborn. I'm glad that you let Bella honestly recognize that her love for Edward outranks her love for Jacob, and then to go ahead and explitictly spell that out for him so that he'd understand.

"because as we held on to each other, we were letting go." This was well put. Very nicely done. All in all, a really nice chapter. I'm glad you decided to go with writing out the Jacob scene and having it happen face-to-face. That Charlie was there before was a really nice touch, too. Good job.  --g

P.S. Thank you for the stupendously flattering rec. I'll thank you again in the A/N for chapter 8...but thought I should say it here as well.

Author's Response:

Haha yeah, that line would've been horrible had it been from anyone else.  Only Rose can pull off something like that. Though my favorite was a reader who asked me if it was thinly veiled euphemism for safe sex, and I had to admit. Yes. Yes, it was.  I had really wanted Charlie to have a chane to redeem himself, and that could only come through having him both stand up for Bella and admit to his wrong-doing. I couldn't easily forsee it occurring with the two of them because Charlie's an action guy.  Plus I needed to ream Jake a little, and Bella just isn't capable of doing it.  You're actually the first person to say anything about the "held on to each other, we were letting go" line, and it was one of my favorites, so thanks for liking it;).

 

And don't worry about any a/n's thanks. you had said that Ithaca doesn't get as much readership because it's not strictly E/B, and while I don't have a huge number of readers, those that I do I'm more than willing to send your way. I love Ithaca and canon/au stories, so it's a perfect fit!

 

  - Katie