And she lived & they worked everything out & ditched the mansion & lived happily ever after & kittens & rainbows & daffodils!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right?

Right.

I think any words I have to say about how I feel about this ending wouldn't be enough. This last chapter is too complex & therefore, so are my feelings about it. (None bad, I assure you. Just the problem of having a limited vocabulary). I do think that if you had tried to pack in a "safe" & "guaranteed, all-resolved-happy" ending it wouldn't be true to your story as a whole. So for any potential haters out there who want canned Rogan bliss - they can go consult their imaginations. (Sounds a lot better than "piss off", right?)

I had to start a Word Doc to keep a running list of things I loved:

"His crutches were propped against the nearest wall. When asked, Logan would say simply and indifferently that he'd been teaching the boy to fight like a man." Hilarious.

"Her serene voice was a balm to an ache you hadn't been aware of." Great & new description of a voice that has been written about a lot (myself included, mine pales in comparison to this).

"One sheet was twined around her leg” This scene was so subtle, seemless. Could easily understand what happened & it was an appropriate snippet. Perfection. Truly perfection

"…and for distancing himself from any personal association.” I don't have a verbal explanation for why I liked this, but I did.

WTFx is up with Jubilee? You warped her & twisted her in ways the comic book writers (who do some pretty crazy shit) couldn’t even dream of! Like the paradox of how she’s mocking Marie for “getting Logan to stay that long”, then crying because the poor Firecracker can’t snag anyone who’d stick around long enough for her.

“At mealtimes she sat at their preferred table, alone with the heat of an almost-forgotten spotlight” I can see what's happening in this one single sentence and feel what she's feeling.

“She read these, and tried to understand.” Another bittersweet snippet. Poor Marie.

“"If it will make him stay."” Awww & oh no filled my mind with this.

“It flustered her, made her voice skip like a pebble on concrete” Loved this & jealous because of it. You could have – anyone else would have – just left it at “her voice skipped” or some such variation, but every similie you include is so visual and spot on.

“offered her a low copper grin” Where do you come up with such evocative descriptions?!?!!? WHERE?!?!?!

“Logan felt like the shell of a grenade who's pin had been torn from it's casing and tossed carelessly away. Hard to the touch, but half of a heartbeat away from exploding, transforming it's exterior into nothing but heat and dust and shards of shards.” Again you could’ve gone w/ something simple like “Logan felt like a grenade ready to explode” but you didn’t & we all benefitted for it. Another example of how we are all streets behind you.

“The openness of Outside Beautiful and nauseating in it's endlessness” You ever read something & go "YES! YES! I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!!!!" That was this for me. I get that! The night sky & dark water - it's the endlessness, as you eloquently pointed out - that truly, honestly, and genuinely is nauseating



I'm sad to see this end. But endings mean new beginnings, right? Not to rush you! But you did spend 6 months on this and now your Rogan muse is free to frolic through the daisies, slicing their little petals off with adamantium claws.

Author's Response: So I take it you would be against the smutty epilogue, right? Hmmmm....quite the pickle. I\'m torn. But I do wholly and inexpressibly appreciate the \"canned Rogan bliss\" remark, very grateful to have your support--as with everything else you\'ve written hear. Mother of All Reviews?--Very hard to disagree. You are fantastic beyond belief and I am immensely grateful.

Is it odd that I had no problem eating while reading the first part of this chapter? I'm considering what kind of person that makes me...

"She'd known girls (plenty of them), girls raised on curse words instead of lullabies, girls who couldn't read but whose eyes had learned too much before they were six years old." A heartbreaking, but astute description.

" Just looking at him provided answers to questions before anybody asked them: No, you could not run fast enough; No, you did not have a chance." Loved, loved, loved this description of Logan! So true and worded very nicely! I think the Logans you tend to write are my favorite Logans :)

And I just want to formally say welcome to the coffee club. You'll be addicted in approx. 2 days so please feel free to drop by one of our meetings. Just look for the group of sunglass-wearing tweakers, clutching coffee cups & laptops huddled in the shadow of a Starbucks.

Author's Response: It makes you an awesome person as far as I am concerned and I am very pleased to hear that it didn\'t bother your digestive tract. (The caffeine has worn off, but Ive gorged myself on episodes of The Big Bang Theory...thats only funny if you\'ve seen the show. If you haven\'t, ignore everything in these parenthesis). Thank you uber much. >hugs< Want some of my cheesecake?

"This place was not ashamed of it's bareness, stared you in the face and dared you to challenge it's lack of pretense. Exactly like the man who inhabited it."

"Logan said, in the same manner she was learning to expect from him: as if each word was a precious commodity and she was making him waste them."

Perfectly perfect & dead on. You're ability to capture things like that blows my mind AND rocks my socks. Look at you go :)

Unfortunately what your Marie is going through hits too close to my work life so even though it's so well written, I'm going to bypass pondering those parts & O.D. on Logans instead. So could I borrow your Logan for a bit? Yours is my favorite & I know you need him to write, but I promise I'll return him...eventually...in the same condition...more or less...

Author's Response: Rocks your socks, huh? Kinky. >exaggerated wink<.....Okay, so that was more creepy than funny. Anyhoo, thank you a billion times. Everytime you quote something I bounce. This time, my kitten was on my lap and he wasnt too happy, but I am....Unfortunately, I cannot lend you my Logan. He\'s very important to me and I\'d have to untie him and get him into the car...Its just too much of a hasske. Sorry!

"She submitted to him with a few tremors and a watering of eyes that couldn't imagine any more hurt, but couldn't hope for anything else." Heartbreaking. I simply loved this line.

"He wanted to bury his face in her neck, say "It's Okay" until his throat gave out." I think I had the same heart problems Logan is experiencing in this chapter when I read this line. This made something inside me hurt. I envy your ability to put sentences like this together.

As I said in that email, totally worth the wait. Except this time you delivered 186% percent (yeah, that's those numberz again....with a z, don't forget).

As for the naked Hugh holding a puppy & eating candy...well yes, yes that would be much appreciated. It'll go in the "MANimals" calendar. Which month though?

Author's Response: Why not all months? I could totally spend a year looking at naked Hugh. For this review, and your beautiful skill with numberz, I\'ll put fifty stamps on his package and make sure you get it by tomorrow. Don\'t forget to check your mail box. If you don\'t find our man, it means he chewed his way out of the box.

So today was the most boringest, awfulest poppiest day at work/school & I decided to re-read Heal Over & this. And I realized that for what it's worth, in my book this stuff is in like Terri, & jjblazer territory - the O.G.s.

That's right I said it, there are Original Gangsters in W&R fanfic (gangsters with a hard 'r', mind you). And I'm keeping your stories in that general frame of mind.

I should stop bothering before you consider pressing charges for harassment or worse, not update...

Author's Response: My eyes popped and, because there are sleeping people in my house right now, I bit my fist to keep from screaming crazily at my computer--in a good way. Do know how hard it is to do a silent happy dance? Its like trying to tiptoe past Wolverine when the whole floor is carpeted with bubble wrap. Anyway--thank you. That\'s one of my most self-indulgent of daydreams, having someone say that to me. Im beyond ecstatic. ...And it\'s strange-I got my alert just as I fineshed picking out pictures for you.

First of all: again I'm running into the problem of not knowing what to say about the wonderfulness of your writing. Since anything I put down pales in comparison to your words. I looked over the previous reviews & your responses (because I'm a stalker, get that restraining order handy) - and for someone who doesn't have a personal history with this kind of trauma you are describing it perfectly.

Actually, my job is helping victims of sexual assault and when I read this I'm astounded at how well you're able to put words to something that is for the most part unspeakable. I mentioned the mind-body disconnect from last chapter, but the blinding clarity & unpredictability of panic attacks is also treated very well and realistically.

As for the bottom A/N: I think that dividing it up wouldn't hurt. I think I'm more inclined to read a series versus tackling a monster of a story. Sometimes it helps the reader with the transitions of the story too - if a lot's going to happen & there's a shift in tone (like maybe it starts out w/ awful circumstances like this & then everything starts looking roses for the characters & they heal & trust each other & kittens & rainbows...but I digress).

Also, when you described his fake-sleeping-concentration-face I totally pictured how he looked in the last pic I emailed you....except without the dripping beachy wetness.....ok time for different thoughts!

Author's Response: I\'m having the same problem, trying to express how thankful I am for these beautiful reviews in a way I haven\'t used before. Thank you. I felt almost guilty describing an experience I haven\'t had, as if I have no right. You are always too awesome for words Sarah...and I was picturing the same thing!

:( I just want poor Marie to catch a break. I know she's getting there - getting out of the city & having Logan are breaks for her. The simpleton in me just wants her to have a moment of peace or lightness, even briefly during her recover. However, I know that wouldn't be the case in real life, which goes to show how scarily accurate & raw (in a good way) this story (is it too premature to call it an Epic yet?) is.

I hope this review makes sense. I got the alert at around midnight & couldn't leave it for morning.

Also, very happy you've got fan art! It really is dead on. Sadly my artistic talent peaked in high school. Therefore you will continue to only receive suggestive/depraved Logan/Hugh Jackman pictures from me.

Author's Response: Depraved pictures of that flesh-colored mountain of man beast? Thats all? How ever will I manage? Imma try to squeeze in some kittens for you, but don\'t blame me if they\'re as rabid as our plot bunnies. Thank you+a hug+a whole box of cupcakes.

Oh you sneaky bastard (I mean that in the best way possible). That last part came so far out of left field. You just got yourself a golf clap.

'She stared at the floor, unable to differentiate between an introduction and an auction." I don't know what to say to this, but this is how it made me feel :'(

"He was growling, then moaning, lips pinched in an agonized smile. At first, the girl thought--no. His body was wound with nothing but distress." I like how you subtly keep going back to what happened to her & the way she lived - in opposition to what she's experiencing now that she's away from the tenement. It really shows that she has no mental framework for what she's being exposed to, she's just responding based on her past. I shouldn't have read this in between school assignments because I almost threw out words like "schema" and "assimilation". Vomit.

Anyway.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Kid."
Awww. Since I can't use my words properly without getting lofty I'm just gonna say that sentence made me feel like this :D

I still can't believe I overlooked this update. I'm putting myself in the corner for a while.

Author's Response: This review made me feel like :~DDDD And no, I\'m not saying it gave me a quadruple chin. (Btw-what\'s a golf clap?) Thank you uber katuble much. >hugs< Know what? When we get that cupcake--you can have the first bite. ;~)

Okay so I was thinking about this on the drive home & I can't believe I forgot to mention it in my previous review. I'm an ass.

"He judged the texture of her silence, the shifting emotions in her blood" I love how you just snuck this in there you trixy author, you. "Texture" is such an appropriate word. I feel like while authors throw around Logan's senses, no one's really been able to grasp what the process is like for him. It really feels like you did that here.

P. to the S. You're one review away from having the #1 Most Reviewed Story! I'm pre-gaming your accomplishment & having a beer on your behalf.

Author's Response: The \"oh, and-\" kinds of reviews are my favorites. Yeah, yeah. I call everything that-but thats only cuz I *always mean it*. (Know you understand). Thank you soooooinsertbillionOsooo much!!! >hugs< Feel like such a cowgirl--you made me say, \"yahoo!\". Dang you. Way to cram me into *that* stereotype....

I know you said there'd be tweaking with Jubes, but day-um....chica's a bitch!

"He always smiles so eagerly at her." You're dead on with this line. I hate the kid, but I like the description.

Oh, by the way. WTF?!?! What happened at the end?! He can touch her!!! You are so lucky I haven't figured out how to crawl through my computer screen, missy

Author's Response: Yeah, umm...I\'m (Courtney) having a lot of fun with Jubilee. Never read the comics, but I hope I\'m not totally insulting the canon-devotees. Thank you so much!

Am more than happy to provide you with *days* of procrastination. It's the very least I can do.

"Like a glass wall had fallen between himself and almost everybody else...." This and the following lines I really liked. I had this image in my head when I was reading the scene and it's like your words *knew* that during the set up & then laid it out perfectly in worded form.

"Heat sitting smugly on his shoulders." Smug is so right here. You find the most perfect words for even the tiniest of sentences that still pack a punch of description.

"Breathless after only fifty yards or so. Pussy." and "He didn't like how the boy stuck out his chest, as if hairless was a thing to be proud of." Lol-ed for real at these two lines. Thoroughly appreciated the subtle shout out to The One True Chest. *Bows head, gives thanks for it*

I realized early on while reading this chapter that the way you write is like overdosing on something really really good (like chocolate lava cake..droooooools). Your descriptions, words choices, usage, & construction are just *too* good. And it's seamless, not overworked; it doesn't read like you're trying to hard to make the words do what you want them to do (even though I know you have a permanent dent in your head from the desk bangage while writing). So I hope that makes sense.

I also had to point this out: "Drover her in his pickup so she wouldn't have to sit with the others in the van." I know you meant drove, but Freudian slip maybe? ;p Someone been watching Australia, hmm? This just proves that you're brain is All Jackman, All The Time. *No Rest For The Obsessed!!!!!* I *love* it and I'm proud to serve in the SCC along side you. *wipes tear*

Author's Response: This review made me genuinely \"WOOT\", and I\'m not much of a wooter. Thank you for bringing out the woot in me, Sahara. Am always grateful and happy to hear your thoughts on a chapter. >hugs<.....And was totally thinking of you and the SCC when the hairless line was being scribbled. ;~D

Daaaayum, Rose! Your Jubie is a bitch!!!!!

"And I swear to god, if he calls me 'yellow' one more time I'm going to, like, file a complaint. Cuz that's, like, totally racist, you know?" YES! So glad you finally worked this in! I had forgotten it for a bit, then you toss it in when I'm not looking. Nice.

She's still a mega bitch. Wow. I was absolutely disgusted by her, what she said & what she did - which is a testament to how well you described all of that. Ugh. She left a bad taste in my mouth.

But that part you describe before Jubes & Pyro return from their "date" is so thorough, so detailed without bogging us down with words.

You are the Queen of Subtext (I'm really not just handing titles out these days, y'know). There is so, so, so much going on under the surface for them. In fact, just about all of it is internal conflict that you map out beautifully and delicately. You described how Logan could feel every inch of Marie, then later on you casually popped in -from Marie's POV - his choice of a thick sweater to show just what he did about that problem. Ugh, I love how you constructed that.

Poor Logan & his morning wood. Y'know, it's not nice to tease your Logies like that (side bar: no red squiggle line of condemnation for the word "Logie". wtf?).

That said, I appreciate the screaming, goopy, mishapen dedication. I appreciate it all the more since it's not real because newborns annoy me/ creep me out.

Author's Response: Haha. Didn\'t want to spoil the surprise in the Authors Notes--really glad you liked how the Yellow was used, know it was a little...*smaller* than you might have envisioned it would be. (Perhaps your JuJu will counteract mine?)....As usual, your review made me bounce and I am thankful for each and every word.