I've no idea why I haven't reviewed Map me with Bruises before, and haven't read this story before, but just to let you know I found this incredibly heartwrenching and hard to read, but ultimately, satisfying and right. You've cut right to the core of their dilemma, and as drastic (and ill-advised, because if she'd thought about it more perhaps the pain would have been more endurable?) as her solution was, it might actually have been the right one. Yes, that would have been one potentially screwed up kid, and Maree really did need to find herself a little more before becoming a parent. Huge kudos for taking the tough path with this fic rather than the easy, people-pleasing one. It really needed to end the way it did and kept the trilogy tight, dark and true. (And I'm going to rec this trilogy on my tumblr Caution: Adult Themes, if that's OK with you.)

I gotta say, I really love the happy endings that take the easy way out. That makes it an even bigger complement to you that I absofrickinlutely love this story. The realism and angst are a refreshing (as in tears) change

Everyone has said it all, there's really nothing left to add. I loved it, I hated it, it was so very well written, I'm glad I read it, but, sorry Kerry, it sure as heck is NOT going into my favs.

Author's Response: lol i'm not sure as to whether this is a good review or not, but yeah i get what you mean and thanks for the review :)

I'll be lazy and not write a review that's quite as long as the other ones on here ;)
so, uh...woah. that was really really dark ang angsty, and i love that! (even though it ends up depressing me each time...lol, masochist anyone? ;) )
and yes, you nailed the realism. a little too well, even; what a heartbreaker this was!
oh and uh...did I mention hot? =P

Author's Response: sadness ... but atleast my fingers can uncramp a lil. well i guess i'm a masochist too since i wrote this ... hmmm ... worrying. and once again YAY! for realism, i seem to be driving everyone to either eat or cry with this story. me on the other hand is surviving on korn style chicken pieces and ice cream - my attempt at being healthy.rnrnand thanks :) glad u enjoyed the uh ... umm ... hotness. i honestly can't believe people have let me get away with it.

Have been worrying about the title over the last few days ;) but having read Logan’s explanation of it I have to say I love it!

There are a few things within this one that don’t’ quite sit right for me though and I’ll try and explain why – Marie’s inexperience in the first one was understandable but in the second one we were led to believe that she is now ‘experimenting’ frequently ;) and then in this one we get “do I just sit on it?” I just had the feeling that even if they hadn’t done it that way.....well it was just a little too naïve following the first two fics for me.
Secondly – the thirty years thing was for me if not a lot at least a little believable but the 17 years statement made no sense at all, maybe I should point out that I met my husband at 16 was living with him at 17 and was married at 19 and he’s 13 ½ years older than me [20 years later we’re still together] and because of this I do struggle with fics that really go into the age issue, however even taking my circumstances out of the equation why would Scott of all people [who is a lot younger than Jean] think that Marie only had enough time until she looks the same age as Logan? And why would Marie who maybe only 17 but not 7 even entertain the notion that this was all the time she had?

The abortion was hard reading and despite what will almost certainly be differing views from the readers I thought you did a good job at the end trying to explain her reasons behind the decision. “I know you. You said you’d die without me.....I couldn’t give you someone else to lose.”

You did good!!
Well done x

P.s. I’m with Helen on the appropriate use of the English language – an ass *is* a donkey and an arse is just..... well an arse, and pants are underwear not trousers etc etc etc every time I write a fic I have to think a thousand times over how to write in the American version of English!!!

Author's Response: lol i was worrying that people were worrying about the title. you guys are a lil sick lol rnrnand gah, you really thought things through didn't you. i'ma have to really get detailed to explain things.rnrnmarie's inexperience - yep, you're right, it does feel like she's gone backwards. but in 1 and 2 it's nearly always him initiating things. even when she starts she does so knowing that he'll take over. in 3 it fell to her to take the lead and she doesn't find it comfortable. and as for experimenting ... well ... their relationship was on a downwird spiral at the end of 2, and then people have already found out by the start of 3. they've done things ... but will all the tension about people finding out and putting pressure on them it hasn't been all that enjoyable. i mention that they hardly want to at the same time, they hardly have any time alone together to do so, and when they do it's because he's angry and she's upset. no experimental lovin involved. more 'wham bam, run! scotts comin!' And there's the fact that she's seventeen, pregnant, and with a man whose exploits are in her head. she's insecure. hopefully that explained things. if not drop me another email, i love talking about my own work lol.rnrnthe age thing - well, i figured 17 because she's almost eighteen now and in seventeen years she will look around his age. that will be the point when they know things are going to get worse. and plus scott really wanted to drive it home, seventeen sounds a lot more scary (and dramatic) then say 20 or 25. and i think the difference between you and your husband (congrats btw) and logan and marie, is that logan won't age in tandem to marie. he's going to pass her by and that's the frightening thing. especially since every year that passes brings her that much close to old age and death.rnrnScott - lol i was hoping no one would ask me about scott and jean. but that's another example of how an older/younger realtionship can work when people age. Scott will grow older with jean, but Logan won't. and plus i wanted to save jean from bashing if it came from her. also i knew that marie listening to scott would hurt Logan and drive him to act in such a way - could you really see logan hurting a woman like he did scott? It's not so much the number seventeen as much as the fact that there is a number at all. when you know it MIGHT end up this way it isn't a good idea to bring a baby into the world. especially when you know that you won't be alright if things go bad and you end up alone, either of you.rnrni'm glad us brits hav decided to stick together. show these americans how to speak english, like we do in england lol (a mutated quote from buffy)rnrnjubbly review btw

Ok. You already know how I feel about the whole 'i hate/love/adore/cringe in pain/am devestated' thing for this. It's great and realizstic and I hate you. The ice Cream didn't pan out, the kids woke up and I decided against it. (Besides the whole 'icecream isn't a good breakfast' thing, I would have also gotten a brain freeze trying to squeeze a bite in here and they cause they woulda ate it all) I am off to read foof though. I think the one about leather slippers with slightly insane Jean and funny scott/Logan antics will do just nicely.

Author's Response: lol, you really want to make it clear to everyone that you hate me don't you? lol, your kids sound adorable, and they double up in stopping you from eating ice cream ... i should get me some of them lol. and ahhh, that story, love it! i might join you there - in umm spirit ... or internet thingy - whatever.rnrnThanks again askita :)

Beautifully written story. I spent part of the time I was reading it trying to talk Marie out of her decision. I spent the other part of it crying. It was written so realistically and with so much heart in it that I could see it being something that would happen in real life. Bravo at getting that part of it right and not feeling the need to slap a rainbow over the whole thing and make it turn out as a happily ever after. I'm off to read something foofy now to help me cope.

Author's Response: well if you've made someone cry and argue with a fictional character you know you've done your job right. lol. and yay for another mention about the realism! that was what i was aiming for. but did you find yourself understanding marie's side of it?rnrnthanks for the yummy review, sorry for the trauma