Wow, I like this new non-passive Bella. It seems right somehow that if Edward is the most person in her life, that he IS her life, then she can find the courage to overcome her self-doubts and anger to reassure him. Beautifully written.

Your updates are like waiting for cherries to be in season- the long period of anticipation is well worth the savory friut! Wow they can finally be together- maybe. Knowing your writing I am sure it will be piss your pants funny, a little angsty and hella good. Keep writing this wonderful story. Love Gigi by the way.

"It was the sun complementing a fire fly for its brightness. And the firefly was having severe heart arrhythmia to begin with from the sheer fact that the sun was speaking to it." Absolutely brilliant! It's rare that someone can blow me away with such a unique and stunning image. I really love your 'wordsmithing'. Keep up the excellent work.

Author's Response:

Thank you, such a wonderful compliment. And thank you for noticing in the first place. Often little facets like that just seem to disappear :) There are four more chapters up, in case you missed it. Twlighted can still confuse the hell out of me lol.

"It all made sense and at the same time it didn’t. I felt like a blind man trying to grasp the concept of colour. "
Wonderful, wonderful wonderful! Keep up the stunning visual imagery-it's just great.

I really appreciate how REAL you make Edward: his proud thoughts about how responsible his brother Emmett is, the angst over his friend Jasper dating his sister Alice ( what normal guy wouldn't be weirded out by this just a little?); even his amusement with Lilly and the testicles/tentacles debacle. I had many similar run-ins with my own daughter when she was young and it was all I could do to the laughter in when she told me how she "sharpened the peniles for the teacher in school today!"

I saw that you recently updated and can't wait to the new chappie... just rereading the other sections for continuity.

A suprising (and funny) start to this story. I feel like this is a well-rehearsed flim-flam: how many times have the two of them plied it on poor unsuspecting bimbos? I had a very good laugh at that and I'm glad poor, affable Kellen will finally get a moment in the sun!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for your review!! This story is kind of a mirror of my friendship with my absolute best guy friend, and we definitely had our moments of 'saving' each other.  So I truly hope everyone likes it. I hope to make you proud with my Kellan :) He's just so much of a teddy bear!!

“And, Bella?  For the record, you’re much better than normal.”  And so are you Green Puma, so are you!

Loved the jokes about frigid vampire sex. I used to joke with my husband that Bella might be knocked unconscious from the force of Edward's supernatural erection while giving him a blow job or hand job. I guess that would give a whole new meaning to the term " cold cocked"!

I am so happy that Rob and Jen can finally walk hand in hand away from their closeted lives towards freedom. I want to embroider little rainbow flags with their names for them ( or the paparazzi).  So proud of our couple.  Can't wait for Orcas- back to where it all began and the place I fell in love with the both of them.  There won't be a lot of angst before that will there? (:<)

 Mrs. D.

Oh my God, I am so glad it isn't cancer.  Being an OB myself, I began to suspect that she might have been pregnant and then with the symptoms possibly have a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.  Please let her be okay, she has already been through so much.

I really feel that Nick was wrong (AGAIN)n to not contact Rob.  Rob has said over and over that people are more important than things and Jen is the most important of all.  This was his chance to show that, but she doesn't trust him or herself enough to believe it.  I am confident that Jen will heal physically, but the violation of Rob's trust that she has caused is significant and may take much longer to resolve itself.

Hopefully Clare, being the wonderful mother that she is will call Rob and then knock some sense into both of them.  I agree that Rob is young in years but Jen is so emotionally stunted she hasn't progressed much farther in her development.

Keep up the wonderful writing.  Your story is compelling and all of the characters are so finely drawn.  I don't "like" all of them but can appreciate that for their stories,like life, there is no black and white.

Steph-

I'm sorry I haven't commented in a while, even in silence I have been faithfully reading each and every update!

Even though NTE is told solely through Jen's POV, I always feel that some chapters are more "owned"by Rob or Jen in terms of the emotional dynamic.  I really felt that Jen shined here in her efforts to take control of their private life.   For the first time since her trip to LA I saw the fire of the old Jen and I have definitely been missing the strong independent character that attracted me to this story.

I too didn't cheat and find out the ending of Remember Me ahead of time.  This was quite a feat as I didn't see it till the film was out on video.  It devastated me as well having lost a good friend who worked in Cantor Fitzgerald, but mainly the tragic loss of someone who was so young and promising.  Even with my feelings surrounding 9-11 I don't think I would have felt the same if Rob's portrayal of Tyler hadn't been so dead on.  I was glad you could express that so accurately through Jen's emotions.

As always, a WONDERFUL update-

Mrs D

Dear 'Lost'

Wow I am up WAY too late reading this when I should be long in bed!  You really are such a gifted writer  that I must say I have to hate you ( just a little) for twisting my gut like this. 

I really think Nick is a prick, but hey even The Devil was once a fallen angel. He really thought  what he was doing was the best course of action for Rob.  I am not even sure if monetary gain was the primary factor.  His singleminded determination reminds me of the testimony of Nazi physicians and SS guards at Nuremberg who were able to detach themselves from committing horrible crimes because they had the the cult-like belief that their cause was just. Don't misunderstand me- I would never say Nick is that evil, just that he has a similar mind set: the end justifies the means. 

My God, how many pathways to Hell have been paved with the same good intentions?  Between NTE and OTT both in such sad places right now I may have to double my antidepressants( JK)

What a F*king mess- I can't tear myself away!

Mrs D.

Interesting idea to replace Bella in the Twilight story with a fresh character.  I always thought she came off too passive and bland to warrant that many people being fascinated with her.  I am pleased that Cassie seems to have more spunk.

From Edward's reaction it is obvious that Cassie is his singer- the initial basis for his fascination.  I like that she is an artist, she should have some commonality later on with the musician in Edward.  But how will the relationship progress with Edward convinced he should stay away and Cassie strong in her belief that High School relationships aren't a good idea.  I am interested to see how you work that out.

And, it is always good to start a story with some mystery. Why EXACTLY did Cassie leave Michigan? Did it have something to do with her Mom's new husband or just a bad break up?

All in all a very good start. Don't leave us hanging too long for the next chapter!

Marie:

I can honestly say that I thought the previous "ending" was perfect. I couldn't imagine that I would  need anything more, but you outdid yourself yet again. 

Some add-on chapters are just silly, a littany of events that happen without any real emotion or depth, written because it's hard to say goodbye to something you love.  Your present day was not like that AT ALL. Every fear that Bella had and every tear she cried for Edward when he woke up I felt too. 

There was so much real emotion present the characters just lept off the page ( or screen in this case) for me.  I adored how you handled telling the kids about Daddy Edward's accident and I cried for Kaylie when she had to hear the horrible news over the phone.  Some adults can be so selfish and not put their own personal demons aside for the sake of a scared child.  You definitely showed Bella to to be the bigger man so to speak.  It would have been so easy to rip Tanya a new one.

Congratulations on really completing this journey and I can't wait to begin the next one with you!!

Mrs. D.

Great to see another chapter up!  I really like how you are fleshing out the adjustment Bella is making to being a single parent.  Considering the young age at which she married this is really the first time that she hasn't been 'parented or partnered' as I would say.  Props to you for showing that it isn't an easy ride.

I am curious how Bella is supporting herself would be interested to see the thoughts of at least her older children on the separation.  It must be hard on them when Jake refuses to participate in family events. Often young kids don't see who is at fault for this- they just want things to go back to a time when it didn't hurt so much.

Looking forward to the next chapter!