I have no idea how long ago you wrote this (The Girl), but I just stumbled across it yesterday. I read it straight through, woefully neglecting my husband and children all day so I could keep reading. This was *gorgeous*. I cannot adequately express my appreciation for the lyrical quality of your writing, the heart-wrenching story and the deep, rich characterization of Logan and Marie. I swear my blood pressure went up at least a dozen separate times.

I loved the Logan/Marie dynamic as far back as the original X-Men movie, but never actively 'shipped' them. Then I stumbled across a fic on this site while doing research for a completely unrelated story of my own, and was hooked. I'm about to go see what else this site has to offer, but I had to take a moment to express how much I enjoyed this story. I hope you're still around to get the feedback (I know it's been a while since this site was updated), and I hope I'm able to find more of your work to devour next. Kudos and thank you!

Author's Response: You have no idea how much this made my day. It's been a long time since I've gotten the inspiration/motivation to write, but this put the biggest smile on my face. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!!!

What an ending! Oh, my! An incredible story. :)

Beautiful and awesome.

*squeals* I think this fic is your best one yet, my fine apricot friend! I literally could not stop reading until the last chapter! I loooved it!!!

PS Jubilee is such a BITCH. Just sayin =)

Author's Response: Thank you so much! You have no idea how much this made my day/weekend. >hugs< You're awesome, my fine speckled pal.

I have four things to say:

1. I thank you.
I've said it before and I say it again: this is The best fic I have ever (and probably ever will) read. I am sad that this has come to an end, but so darn grateful that you've finished this incredible story! So, thank you for that, and more importantly thank you for a phenomenal ending.

2. I admire you.
You are an amazing writer; your skills, your style of writing, your wording, your use of figurative language, your descriptive writing. You are very, very talented. I wish I could be half as good as you are. When I saw the Epilogue was up, I had my expectations, but you surprised me again. I've noticed that you didn't refer to Marie as "the girl" anymore, but you used her name. It's a great symbolism for her character development; that she's not just "the girl" anymore, she's becoming stronger and independent (even though she sometimes needs Logan, but to be fair we all need our loved ones to be close to us). I admire you deeply.

3. I respect you.
A lot of people told you -begged you even! that they want a happy ending, perhaps a little smut included. But your ending is anything but that. The Epilogue is so short, you've wrapped up things rather quickly - but neatly nonetheless, and so realistically. You've proven that you're a bold story-teller; you have the guts to do things your own way, you don't give people/your fans everything they want. I think that's how a true artist should be like and I respect you for that. (and btw, that's what distinguishes you from Stephenie Meyer!)

4. I love you.
My favorite line is "Which of the two men had been the one to hurt her, change her in a way that could not be forgotten with a few words and a happy ending?" This is such a great line! It's so heart-breaking, so good, so deep! So simply wow! I love how you've developed Logan's character throughout this story; from being a dark man/killer who gave "the Girl" sandwiches wrapped in paper, to someone who makes her bookshelves. The bookshelves were so lovely. I know I said I don't like a soft Logan, but I feel like now is the right time for Logan to be soft. You know, this reminded me of a quote by Samuel T. Coleridg "All men, even the most surly, are influenced by affection." I'm sending my love to you.


PS. if I had a Gift Certificate to "One Night with Hugh Jackman", I would most definitely give it to you, because you deserve it :D

Author's Response: I was so thrilled to see this--had a big, stupid grin on my face for hours any time I even began to think of it. Though I could not be more flattered/honored/euphoric/everyhappyadjectiveintheEnglishlanguage that you think so, there are numerous writers on this site that leave my story and me coughing on their dust--you might want to check out jjblazer, or Aranenumanesse, or Jenn. They are the masters........Very glad you liked the use of her name; I was worried about how effective that would turn out to be. And the bookshelves, which I almost cut out. Thank you for this very inspirational/lovely/generous/ego-stroking review. I'll be walking on air for a long time because of it.

Really nicely done with Jubes , right at the end throwing her a smidgen of sympathy !

Gonna pull just one line out today, not because there aren’t more but I’d be here all day and this particular one just jumped itself off the page as top of the outstanding list - ‘Marie felt the corners of her lips rise, crinkle unaccustomed flesh’

The chapter kinda felt like she was slowly getting there, that she was getting stronger and was going to be ok.

Start of the someday para to the end – damn well done! loved the ‘dream’, the meticulous planning of every detail, how it will be different, how he will be different, how he will wait however long it takes and how he has no room for anything other than the belief that it *will* happen. You had the reader believing it too which is all kinds of good – and clever!

‘What you will find here is very different from what I intended to write’ – I have a problem with that statement!! What you ended up writing was excellent and you’re right, you’ve probably hit both sides with an ending all will love but....... questions for you - Do *you* like it? Are *you* happy with it? Take away everything that everyone has said to you and would you have the same version? If you answered no to any of them then repeat after me - *I am the writer, the story is mine!* [**repeat unlimited]

I feel the need to thank you [ok so I already have but I’m going to do it again] for writing such a wonderful story, for your time and effort in doing so and for thoroughly entertaining so many of us.

THANK YOU X

P.s. What’s next? Got any ideas? already in thought, outlined, penned, ready to post? !!!! [looking forward to whatever it may be x]

Author's Response: Actually...I do, and I am. I've been feeling very much at peace all day, pleased with how this turned out (a great deal of which is thanks to Sahara, who helped me clean up the rancid Word-Mess this was previously). Thank you, though. You are an excellent friend to be so concerned...and I just finished outlining my next project. Plan to start at the beginning of this story's reviews, read all the way through them-a ritual to gear myself up), and start on it tomorrow. :~D A bazillion thanks for this, and for taking the time and the chance to jump into this chapter-writing business. I hope you will always find it worthwhile.

Uterus Dinosaur is very pleased. He has not tried to stomp on any jeeps or eat any goats since reading this.

I'm soooooo sooooo happy you were okay with my comments & worked them in where you felt they were needed. Glad to be of any help. Kind of selfish on my part since I want to gobble this story up. That may be Uterus Dino talking.

"Marie ran her fingers over the top of the closest, stirring the scent of voices in her head that wanted to talk about cabins and raw animal flesh and how a tree sounded when it dropped it's weight to the Earth. Marie felt the corners of her lips rise, crinkle unaccustomed flesh." I perked up at this. Maybe you're secretly unleashing the little bits of primitive feral goodness in all of us.

"A petal-soft palm stroking silky wood, the unique swirl set in her fingertips catching on the pine's grains, creating music for Logan's straining ears like the friction between grasshopper legs, like a rosined bow on a cello." I could actually picture him sitting on his bed, eyes closed, ears cocked, listening to her. I don't know how you do it - & believe me, when I went over this I tried cracking your code, but I still don't know how you're able to turn words into something very visual.

I'd put quotes about the ending, but I'd end up copy/pasting the whole damn thing. Like I said, I love how you approached the Smex-Lite - and that you went with the Lite version instead of the calorie heavy Full Brew Smut. Anything carnal wouldn't have felt right or true to the story or the development of the characters. So, putting the possibility - one day - spin on it was a very smart choice. And just the way it was written was the absolute perfect mix of tender and thrilling.

I didn't get to this in the email - just remembering it now, but I don't think Logan has gone soft here. He's always played it reserved with Marie throughout this & I think it holds true here. Like you said, "he knows what he's doing." He knows how to - seduce? which isn't the right word I want to use - but do it keeping her history & subsequent needs in mind. It's calculating in a way, not soft.

Sad to have this end, but I'm excited for all of the possible new bunnies that will spring up around your home ;)

i love that you're serenading your dog to that song.

Author's Response: I love your uterus dinosaur! (...Can honestly, without a doubt or hesitation, say that I have never said that to anyone in my entire life before. Three cheers for firsties!) This review made me cross my arms over my chest and fall backwards in a euphoria, hammer my heels against the floor like the happiest epileptic seizure ever. Thank you. I'm so glad you liked it....and that you picked up on the kitten-thing this time. ;~D

I think you came up with the perfect ending to this story. Possibly the only way it could end and feel true. Any attempt to have them fall into bed and magically be able to forget past damage would have left a bitter, false note.

Author's Response: Oh my god. This meant more to me than I could even attempt to describe--it's exactly what I was worrying/hoping to accomplish. Thank you, thank you, thank you. >hugs tightly<