Date: Sep 12, 2018 9:36 pm Title: Chapter 28
Great way to avoid the issues. And once again Justin is the one compromising.
Author's Response:
This is just the calm before the storm - as Brian said, they will have to talk about this and the talk will happen. But even Justin wouldn't be evil enough to have a conversation like that with someone suffering from a hangover ;)
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 12, 2018 8:58 pm Title: Chapter 28
Step by step, they hopefully are getting closer. Justin took care of him instead of lashing out at him and Brian let him do it without throwing a fit. Great story. I wasn't paying attention and read the Pgh. years on MW so that review is there.
Author's Response:
This is the calm before the storm - they will have the conversation, but even Justin is not evil enough to have that conversation with someone suffering from a hangover ;)
More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 10, 2018 7:21 pm Title: Chapter 27
I hear what you’re saying, but the problem is that they’re not living in the past, the whole situation is in the present. Too many things unresolved not enough questions answered.
Date: Sep 10, 2018 6:25 pm Title: Chapter 27
Hi again! I didn't mean so much the tricking in itself, but rather the way Brian used it on one hand as a pain-management, but also often to hurt Justin or to put him in his place (Zucchini-man, Hotlanta, after Vermont) or even to take a decision from him (Rage party). I can't imagine Justin tolerating or enduring this for longer. And if I understood Brian right, he uses it here both as pain management and also to show Justin that he (Brian) isn't worth to be loved (and through that he tries again to decide something for Justin).
But it also seems that his pain management isn't working anymore - I mean, who would have thought that Brian would ever has a breakdown in front of Emmett? I'm really so curious about Justin's reaction. Great story!
Date: Sep 10, 2018 6:25 pm Title: Chapter 27
Oh boy. Nothing like Brian causing more problems than there originally was.
Love Em in this chapter. Only he or Ted could get away with talking to Brian like that.
Justin had some idea what was going on with Brian. He just had to go over everything that happened. He was onto Brian, he'd figure it out.
Author's Response:
Yeah, Brian knows how to make life harder for himself and everyone around him :(
Emmett is a good friend to both Justin and Brian as well :)
We'll see if Justin can figure out what caused this return of the old Brian.
More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 10, 2018 4:04 pm Title: Chapter 27
Thank you Emmett!!!! That was a close call, even if Brian has every right to get his needs met, but not like this, not like before Luke.
Author's Response:
Well, Brian did get his needs met. Emmett didn't stop him from tricking. Emmett just stopped him when he thought Brian was getting to a point that was in need of someone interrupting. He saw the pain management for what it was :/
Emmett is a good friend to both Justin and Brian as well.
More will be up soon :)
[Report This]Date: Sep 10, 2018 1:52 pm Title: Chapter 27
Brian needs to see a therapist because his mental thinking is out of wack.
Author's Response:
I totally agree! The thing is: Will he realise that himself as well?
More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 10, 2018 1:38 pm Title: Chapter 27
I don’t even know where to start with this chapter. I guess the recurring theme of “let the past be the past is a good place to begin. The problem here is the past isn’t really in the past because everything is still too raw and fresh. A couple of months is nowhere near enough time to work through something like this. Brian was right about how Justin should feel and the fact that he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven at this point. Way too much still needs to be worked out before that can actually happen. And Debbie telling Brian he had a misguided sense of guilt....just wow. The guilt he feels is not misguided at all, in fact he should feel it in spades because he did some pretty fucked up shit. I hate to sound like a broken record but, they aren’t doing themselves any favors playing happy family when they’re not even close to being that. Over the course of this story I have been desperately trying to find reasons to be happy about them eventually having a HEA, I haven’t found it yet. IMO Daphne and Emmett are the only ones who seem to have a logical perspective on things and don’t see the situation through rose tinted glasses.
Author's Response:
The past can only be the past once you really work through it and then you can move on. Maybe now they will realise that they haven't worked through it properly yet and that more effort is needed from everyone.
As for Brian being right about how Justin should feel: I have to disagree with that. The only one who can and should decide about that is Justin. If he doesn't want to be angry that is his right. If he doesn't want to stay living in the past, that is his right. Brian has no right to once again make a decision like this for Justin. He thinks Justin shouldn't love him and should have never forgiven him and now he's setting out to hurt Justin, so he'll get his wish. Sorry, but that's not the way to go about this :/
Those two need to talk and they need to talk properly!
More will be up soon and we'll see how they will deal with this :)
Date: Sep 10, 2018 12:21 pm Title: Chapter 27
Wow I t.hink Justin should play some Moby at high volume and cook eggs and bacon as a little payback
Author's Response:
Haha, you are evil ;)
But we'll see how Justin will react. Maybe he will do just that :P
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 10, 2018 11:50 am Title: Chapter 27
Hi again! As I mentioned in my other review for "The Pittsburgh Years", I try to imagine how it could go on. Man, I was so wrong... I imagined a talk between Brian and Justin, but this would have been too easy wouldn't it...
Gosh, I thought Brian had already been in therapy... :-) This conversation with Debbie is wonderful and she tells him exactly the right things... That they still love each other... "Don't make him leave..." "You've got a chance here to get the family..." Don't mess it up...." And I didn't think he would behave like that after this conversation... He behaves just the opposite but maybe it was too much pressure at once... Ted also told him similar things. And yet he lets himself be consumed by his guilt and does it again. Again, he tries to push Justin off a cliff and tries to give him a chance to hate him. Because he thinks he doesn't deserve to be loved so much, he just hurts Justin... Man, Brian, I really thought he was already on his way, I really thought he was over his pain mangement... And I also thought he would've been over this "he deserves better". He's doing it again. Deciding by himself what would be best for Justin, trying to take his decision from him and hurt him so much that he has only one choice ... to turn away from Brian...
Actually, I always think there's no one who understands Brian like Justin. On the other hand, there've been many scenes in which Justin was also insecure about Brian's feelings and behavior. I'm very curious how he will behave here. Did he recognizes what's going on in Brian while he was waiting for Brian? And if so, how will he react? I would imagine that this more mature and responsible Justin won't easily accept this behavior, but then what will happen...
I think it's clear that Justin still loves Brian, but so far a relationship between them has never been a topic, so far it's all about friendship. Justin will surely have been hurt by Brian's behavior, but will he also have been hurt by knowing Brian still tricking? If this and a possible relationship should be an issue in a conversation, it would probably be a good time for both to admit that they may need help together from outside...
Fortunately, Emmett found Brian in this situation. Despite everything, he behaves like a real friend. The two pathetic idiots whose names I no longer want to name would only have incited and encouraged Brian in this situation and heightened his uncertainties.
I can't wait to read more! Warmest regards!
Author's Response:
I am glad I can still surprise you at times ;) There will be a conversation, this is definitely something they need to talk about, but I like to torture them both a bit first ;)
Brian had been in therapy, but as mentioned before: Your therapist can only help you on the things you discuss with them and I don't think Brian ever really brought up his guilt over what he did to Justin as he only starts to realise how guilty he really feels now that Justin is back - maybe it's time for some more therapy :/
It's sad to see Brian fall back into his old behaviours and to see him make the same mistakes over and over, but poor guy seems to have been damaged by Jack and Joanie more than he might have realised himself. And on top of that he now also has to face his guilt for having kept Luke a secret from Justin, which in his own eyes makes him only more unlovable to Justin. He just can't understand why after everything Justin would still love him... How he could still love him?
As for Justin - we'll see his reaction soon! We'll see if he understands what's going on with Brian or if he doesn't. I agree with you, I always thought that Justin understood Brian better than anyone else, but after everything that has happened between them, after all the pain and betrayal, the question is: Do they still have that bond?
As for the tricking: I honestly don't think that Justin would be upset about that. He would probably be upset about Brian going back to his old pain management techniques and succumbing to his own thoughts and insecurities like that, but I don't think that Justin is under any belief that Brian is not having any sex at all.
Yes, Justin wanted them to be committed and together in the past and he was very much against the tricking in season 4, but I don't think he will be upset about it now when they aren't even together. Then again, we'll see...
What's obvious is that they need to talk - this is something that can't just be ignored, so we can only hope that Justin will be able to make Brian talk.
I just love Emmett - what can I say? Even though he and Brian had their problems, he knows that Justin loves Brian and knows how important it is to Justin that Brian figures out his shit. He is a great friend to both of them really :)
More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 10, 2018 9:00 am Title: Chapter 1
So happy you updated again. Didn't think things could continue the way they were. I know this was a old-time Kinney 'Pain Management' technic, but as much as Justin loves him, I don't think forgiveness will come easy for him. Emmett might have to eventually interfere. Luke might have to give Brian a cheerful welcome in the morning, laughing and bouncing on the bed. *smirk* Besides, is it gonna get around the Avenue regarding his behavior that night... You know, Gay Gossip! I felt so bad in the end when Justin had watched Brian come in and make his way to bed, relieved that he was home. SMH...
Love the story,
Cathy
Author's Response:
We'll see about Justin and his reaction soon!
As for Emmett - I think he would rather prefer if they could figure it out themselves *lol* I don't quite see him playing matchmaker for Brian and Justin yet. He might realise that Justin loves Brian and has forgiven him, but I think Emmett is still wary of Brian after what he has done to Justin.
Yes, poor Justin - staying up and waiting for Brian to make it back home. Poor guy really loves big bad Kinney :/
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 10, 2018 4:11 am Title: Chapter 27
Getting interesting. Why does Brian do these things? Oh easy answer, Jack & Joanie. Maybe just maybe, this will help him turn things around to the way they should be. Great writing.
Author's Response:
Brian has been more damaged by his upbringing than he might realise himself :/
We can only hope that Debbie and Emmett got through to him and he'll do the right thing now :)
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 06, 2018 5:42 pm Title: Chapter 26
Answer to your answer :-) Yes, I've thought a lot about if you can compare these two situations... Like Michael and Lindsay, Brian had his own idea of the wishes and needs of another person. And like Michael and Lindsay, Brian has also taken the right to make a decision for this other person or to take that decision from this person. Luckily, in Michael's and Lindsay's case that went awry, but, sadly, it worked for Brian for over five years. Sadly, Brian has taken away five years from Justin to be with Luke. If the kidnapping had worked, Brian would have suffered through the same. Of course, the motives are different and of course you can credit Brian for making this decision out of love, but... Lindsay and Michael also loved Brian (or better, that's what they would call it) - albeit in a much pathological way. Or better, the question is, is that love? Maybe Brian would say "that's not love, that's hate". The difference may be that Brian's love is more of selflessness whereas Lindsay and Michael are just selfish. But for the one who experiences this loss and this betray by people you trusted and loved, the pain and the feeling is probably very similar. It's difficult and I think that's a topic that could be discussed for hours ...
Now this chapter: That's so sad. They were probably all looking forward to the first Christmas together. I could imagine Brian was always a little sad the years before because he missed Justin on Christmas. And now they're all together for the first time and Brian is sad because he feels guilty and because he realizes more and more what he had destroyed and taken away not only from Justin, but also from the boys. Hopefully, next Christmas they're together again and truefully happy! And I still expect some emotional breakdown in front of this family picture... That couldn't have been all, could it? I don't know, maybe Justin finds Brian crying in front of the drawing later that night when the boys are sleeping...?
And I just have to mention it... My favorite scenes in this chapter are Luke saying: "Daddy was mean yesterday. I tried to ignore him" - sooo cute - and Brian's thoughts when he finds his "two favourite blonds". Again, an amazing chapter! I don't want your story to end... Warmest regards!
Author's Response:
I totally agree with your first paragraph - couldn't have expressed it better myself :)
No, that was not all ;) There will be more and we'll find out about Brian's mood and the impact Justin's painting has on him soon :)
We can only hope that next Christmas they can all be happy and can all enjoy the holiday :D
And who knows? Maybe Luke will even be able to let his daddies sleep in then :P
I am glad you enjoyed the chapter! More is up now :)
Date: Sep 06, 2018 4:12 pm Title: Chapter 26
Too bad Brian had one of his mood so he didn't enjoy this special day. The boys did enjoy and they had fun.
Luke was really funny with his energy at 6AM.
Author's Response:
Yeah, too bad indeed :( We'll find out more about Brian's mood soon.
Luke is just what I'd imagine Justin's son to be like: Talkative no matter the hour ;)
Date: Sep 06, 2018 11:47 am Title: Chapter 26
Luke so like his Papa when he wants something. Good thing Justin could talk him back to sleep. Justin seems happy. Hope he stays that way for a while.
Brian living with regrets and doesn't know how to handle it. But what's on his mind that caused concern from the gang?
Author's Response:
Yes, Luke is definitely Justin's son ;)
Justin is indeed happy, despite everything, but we will have to wait and see if he'll stay that way... I feel like there's a storm coming :/
We'll find out about Brian's reaction very soon and will then see what caused it and how he's going to deal with it.
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 06, 2018 10:55 am Title: Chapter 26
Yes Brian has one hell of a nerve coping an attitude about a situation he caused. He should feel like shit for robbing Justin of so many years of missed holidays. Is he going to get his draws in a bunch on the boys birthdays too? How about class picture day or parents day at school, and Fathers day? Because these are all moments that Justin hasn’t gotten a chance to be a part of over the last five years. Reasons why them living together is not a good idea just keep coming up for me. Justin should have just gotten a place where he could comfortably have to boys over, doing that would have saved him from the pain from the fallout that’s about to happen.
Author's Response:
We'll see what caused this reaction in Brian in the next chapter. And then we'll also find out how he (and in effect everyone else) is going to deal with that. The smooth ride is definitely over for now :/
Well, I know you didn't want Justin to move into Britin, but he did and we can't turn back time ;) Otherwise it would have been a completely different story and I for my part have to say that I am quite happy with this one ;)
More will be up soon! :)
[Report This]Date: Sep 06, 2018 2:53 am Title: Chapter 26
Brian's problem is that he regrets that he caused Justin to miss Christmas with his son all those years.
Author's Response:
We'll see about Brian's problem in the next chapter. And then we'll find out what brought this on right at Christmas :/
More will be up soon! Thanks for your nice comment :)
Date: Sep 06, 2018 2:19 am Title: Chapter 26
Nice update... Thank you. It seems like everything is going almost too smoothly for the Taylor-Kinneys. It just shouldn't be that easy for B/J to live together, IMO...
Hugs, Cathy
Author's Response:
Nah, the smooth ride is over now ;) I think the first signs have presented itself in this chapter... Stormy times ahead for the Taylor-Kinneys :/
Thanks for your comments! More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 06, 2018 2:11 am Title: Chapter 26
Great chapter. Brian just wants things to back to what they used to be, but work is still ahead for that. Love this story and your writing.
Author's Response:
Yes, there is still a lot of work ahead of them :/
We can only hope that they'll get there eventually.
Thanks for your comment! More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 04, 2018 4:55 pm Title: Chapter 25
Hi! So, for now, my worries seem to be unjustified. At least for this chapter... :-)
I really like that Justin spends time not also just with his two boys but together with Jen and Deb, although I haven't forgiven them totally yet - the most important person here is Justin and he has to decide. And if I understood you right, Brian's first business trip, Justin spent alone with the boys, but the second with Jen and Deb. In my opinion, Justin's always been a family person and so I understand his need for wanting to have a good time with all of them.
I also can understand why Brian don't want to talk so much about the earlier years. I could imagine that he feels not only guilty but that he'd missed Justin on these days... But maybe I'm wrong.
What should I say about Deb... She was always blind on one eye or on both to the things Michael did, at one hand blaming Brian for everything and on the other demanding every time of Brian to make things right. And then she sided with Michael against Brian even after they sicked child services on Brian... And until the end, so until Michael turned away from her, she had hoped that he would see his mistakes and change... It's a pity that she didn't recognize and accepted the truth about Michael earlier, but from a mother's point of view, somewhere understandable. Lucky she had Carl by her side. Without him... And she can also be glad that Brian forgave her too...
I've written it before... It's a real family drama here... Much about forgiveness... And still, I'm terribly sorry for Brian being so betrayed and hurt by his "so called best" friends, but on the other hand, he has also deceived and hurt his true best friend. And even if the motives had been different, it results in the same pain. Feeling betray, lost, hurt and alone...
Looking so much forward to tomorrow! Warmest regards!
Author's Response:
At least for this chapter ;)
Stormier times are ahead...
Yes, Justin spent the first business trip alone with the boys, but for the second one he invited over the grandmothers, so they could spend some time with their grandchildren and he could work on further improving his relationship with them. I agree, he is a family person and always has been and Justin could never live without these people in his life :/
There is pain involved on all sides and yes, there is also pain for Brian - and an incredible amount of guilt he has to work through :/
It was a painful realisation for Debbie to see Michael for the person he really is and to realise he's not as innocent as she'd have liked to believe. But thankfully she had Carl by her side to help her and thankfully Brian was very forgiving too :(
Yes, there are definite parallels between Brian's betrayal of Justin and the way he has been betrayed by Michael and Lindsay. I am glad you noticed them! Only makes Brian's betrayal that much harder to understand. After knowing how much pain he has suffered from, he still didn't hesitate to let Justin suffer the same pain because he thought it was the right thing to do :(
More will be up soon :)
Date: Sep 03, 2018 12:14 pm Title: Chapter 25
Unbelievable.....where was all this compassion for Justin when everyone decided not to tell him about Luke? I’m sorry but I just couldn’t sit around playing nice with Debbie and Jennifer as if nothing ever happened. It really burns my biscuits that Justin is always all “I don’t want to hurt them” when he wants answers that he deserves to get due to their actions. Why does he even keep inviting them into situations where he has the boys by himself? IMO thanksgiving and Christmas was enough “family” time for awhile.
I still maintain that none of them have yet to earn or deserve any of the kindness or forgiveness that Justin has given them. The “happy family” scenes don’t change that for me.
Author's Response:
Haha, why am I not surprised? ;)
I think we have by now long established that Justin is way more forgiving than you would have been and I think it's also clear that at this point in the story he won't change that anymore.
He is trying to move on from the past and he's trying to build a new, better future with the people he considers family.
And just seeing the grandmothers for holidays - that's never going to work in this family ;)
More will be up soon - just be prepared that it might not be to your liking ;)
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it :*
Date: Sep 03, 2018 11:19 am Title: Chapter 25
I'm at a loss.
It's heartbreaking what Deb had to put up with because of Michael. Then on top of Michael refusing to see her and Brian not having her around she almost loses all her grandkids. It was bound ti take a toll on her mentally.
I'm glad Jenn has been there for her.
Author's Response:
Yes, it took Debbie some time to see her son for the person he really is and for her to see that she still has a son that was in desperate need of having a mother around (Brian!).
It's a good thing that she had Carl by her side to help her through all of the pain :(
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 03, 2018 5:06 am Title: Chapter 25
Good Chapter. Thank you for the information you provided on kidnapping charges for me last chapter. It was great;y appreciated, and highly enlightening. As for the chapter... the back story was very interesting. I was delighted that Debbie was smart enough to put in there how she knew Michael was delusional. And, How stupid is Michael? Maybe he thought Brian would be happy that he got the baby away from him. Debbie had commented to Justin that she wanted to only see the good in Michael... How could she even think he was a good person, after he had admitted what he had done??? Also, if I read it right, Debbie is still writing letters to Michael? Which seems crazy if she still wants Brian's love... Confused I guess. Well, anxiously waiting for more. This story is so good. You are an excellent author. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Hugs, Cathy
Author's Response:
You are very welcome for the information :)
It was a painful realisation for Debbie, but finally she saw the kind of person Michael was :/
No, Debbie was writing letters to Michael even after he stopped seeing her, but by now, she has stopped. She knows he's a lost cause and she chose to focus on Brian and her grandchildren instead for her own sanity as much as everyone else's ...
I am glad you're liking the story :) More will be up soon!
[Report This]Date: Sep 03, 2018 2:27 am Title: Chapter 25
Justin has no idea of the damage Michael and Lindsay did. It's good of Deb to tell him.
Author's Response:
Yes, he needed to hear the truth - it was long overdue!
More will be up soon!
Date: Sep 03, 2018 12:21 am Title: Chapter 25
Great chapter. So glad that the idiots got punished for their horrific crime. Now we just need to take those baby steps to getting Justin and Brian to accept what we all want.
Author's Response:
Haha, not all of you ;) There are people who don't want them reunited.
But I am with you and we will be getting there - I promise!
More will be up soon!