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I first saw this new chapter at 2:30 AM this morning. I agree that Will does not need a partner as much as he wants to be treated better. In the pass, he has trained his lovers. Now he must do it with these two. It is sad that Shane had no one to help him. Thankfully, JJ has Will. Hopefully this will only increase the bond between them. Whether JJ is gay or not, he still has a long road back. I think he has some things going for him. First he is stronger than one would think. Jj also has family a family which will be there for him no matter what. Last JJ has even something more that just a family he has Will. Will will not give up on JJ. He will be there. I think the idea of Lark bring Jeff's father is a perfect ending to this wonderous book. Lark at best may not be the best of fathers. However, over the years he has learned a lot, grown up and maybe now he is ready. I think both Lark and Jeff need family and in this reunion, they may find what they need in each other. Only one more chapter. We have lived with this story for over a year. I someway it seems like a mini saga. It is hard to come to the end. I always hate biographies cause at the end the main characters die. Of all the books you have written over the years this one seems even more precious. Thank you Mark for creating such a great story.

Sorry, hearing that this story is ending brings me great sadness. When this part of the saga started Riley and Maddy had just been born. All things were new. For the first time in the history of CAP someone outside the family told the story. True Wade told part of it when Matt was sick but this was a new beginning. Wade and Will have lead us through so much! Will has grown from a boy to a young men and Wade has been healed. Before this he couldn't have exchanged rings with Matt, Now he could. Mark has shown us what the relationship between father and son means, and how it can be broken but also restored. How even in at weakest it is strong. A 100 chapters, it seems like a lot but in my mind never enough. Mark I am sure this you're best story. Thank you so much for it.

Over the years you get to know these characters, these people. As a reader you care about them. Here in this chapter the reader can see the true nature of Wade. First trying to rebuild the relationship with Robbie, then thinking about helping JJ and last the exchanging of rings, which brought tears to my eyes. Mark again you have brought us into the lives of these characters these people in a way which is so real so moving so touching, How you can do it time after time I do not know, but thank you for doing it.

Marie comes across more in this story. It is good to see that she is not a push over. One of the things I thought was the most interesting was Brad and Robbies reaction to drinking compared to Brad's drinking to High School. As for the gates being lock some wounds never die. In Cap years it was 20 years ago that Billy died. But in the mind of the family only like yesterday. Honestly , if these kids are going to drink, isn't this the best place. Safe, and not judgemental. It seems like most of Mark's chapters are in two or more parts. The second part gives me a great deal of hope. Honestly, I almost wrote Jeanine off, but now with the help of her family I can see her getting better. I think Will and Maddy will go a long way in helping her. I've said this before but as I read this part of the saga and see Will grow and mature I almost can't believe it. This changes are so great and vast it almost seem we have a different person. This Will is not a saint but shows he cares a great deal for his family and friends. What he has done for Robbie, Brad, JP, JJ and Jeanine just in the last few days is more than what most 14 yos do in a life time.

Honestly what you said Jeremy gives me hope a lot of hope for the future. In November we had two amendments to the Minnesota Constitution One voter ID, which would have limited voting for students and seniors and the Marriage amendment which would made it much harder for gay marriage. Both were rejected by the voters The voters also removed the republican majority and this term we are even thinking of making gay marriage legal. This new generation doesn't judge people race, sex and gay or straight People are just people. And that gives me ho[e.

Jeremy the first person I thought about was Karen who I believe was going out with Lark after Robbie and Brad got together. the only people that snaugh were Roger and the Hayes family. The other clue is that Jeff looks somewhat like his namesake Jeff Hayes, Not the same color eyes but close.

When I saw another new chapter I was in shock. To much too read. Three chapters in three days WOW!!! It is almost to much to hope for. For those of us , nothing can brighten a cold snowy winter day as sailing around the world with our young naval hero. I have to keep reminding myself George is only 21 or 22. I wish him the best of luck and a safe jouney home. I am sure many adventures lay before him and his brave crew. Wonderful chapter Mark. Your the best!!!!

I must agree with David. To see the two people JP and Will talk. To see JP open up. Brad once said that when JP lower his shields and show how he really felt, those moments were precious. I think it will be very good for both of them for Will to be here at Paley. Sharing those moments are going to be like gold, I also think that Will and Noah are starting on a sold base and hopefully their relationship will grow. I hope Will will grow and mature into the person he can be, someone to be proud of.

Is it someone we have met in the saga?

Without rereading the whole saga again, I search my memory banks Who are the loose ends Jim Crampton had a child back in high school ( that child would be to old but could be a relative of the person). There are endless lost children of the Hayes family, they are not a celibate group. Brad's dad wasn't one to avoid sex. or Kevin's dad. Not the first time evangelists have had that problem. Jeff Hayes could have fathered another child but again that child would be to old. So who? It maybe nobody related, but that would be no fun. So we will have to wait until all is revealed,

For a person who writes only to relax, look what you've done. Not just this reward but for all of the joy which you have given us your readers. You are the best! Congratulations!!!

Well guys have at it. My twisted quess Robbie sister is his mother and Ryan's father is his father.

My first comments disappeared so I will try it again. Jeremy when I said I was surprised Jeanine and Will wern't closer. SinceJeanine is his real mother and JJ is not. However Brad took Will at birth and JJ needed her, so that's what happened. Now for something else, which poped into my mind. I know this will seem twisted but odder things have happened in the CAP world. Today people move around the country more then ever before. Which means even if Jeff grew up in OK he could have been birth someplace else and his birth parents could be from someplace else. Two other clues are out there. Robbie's sister had a baby and Robbie doesn't know what happened to the child. Then Jeff reminds Will of Ryan. I am not sure if that is a red herring or not. So what if sometime in the past Ryan's father met Robbie's sister and had a child. Maybe Ryan's father knew about the child or maybe not. Robbie's sister is left high and dry, She adopted Jeff out and he ended up in OK with his adopted parents. Later Ryan's father moved to CA and had a second son, Ryan. It's a small world but stranger things have happen. If it is possible, it would be unbelievible funny. A few years ago Robbie was bent out of shape because JP, Stef and Matt had sex. Now the same thing has happened to him.

Another chapter which askes more questions than are answered. Will again is here digging into Jeff's past to help Jeff's future. I really like that kid. He has a heart of gold for those he loves. I am sure by the end of this story we will find out who Jeff's father is. Wouldn't it be a great ending! In the beginning we found that Riley was Wade's son and at the end we found who is Jeff's father. I seems like both Jeff education and origin will be solved. Will is not going to let it drop. Then another wringle, Will is bringing Maddie to her mother. I always thought it was odd that JJ was closer to Jeanine than Will. After all Will was her real son. Maybe Brad's fault but maybe now Will's bond with his mother can be restored. Just to add an aside to all this. It is so interesting to sit back and see this family work. They are a odd collection of characters bound more of love than blood, but they do work. Just like the great gift of Christmas Day, when the chips are down they are there. They put their differences aside to show JP how much they care about him. A simple gift but so meaningful. Thanks Mark for another awesome chapter!!

When I was talking about most of the people being six feet I was talking about the family. Has JJ built that world of childhood around him to protect him from the evils of the outside world? What is so interesting I can not see of Will or Darius being taken advantage of like JJ was. They were out there engaging the world. JJ was hiding from the world. Thank God for Alistair, Alistair is a true blood friend Someone it is really good to have in situations like this. Interesting that Will had what he called shallow friends. However, now he has Noah, and Noah will be one of these true blood friends all of us need. As for the next narrator, I think Mari's idea of Will and JP would be interesting. JP has the ablilty to detach himself and give us a overlook of the whole situation, add to that a character like Will who has both passion for life and for others that add to the interest. Brad is like two people in control or out of control. As we appouch 9 11 we may need a serious person like JP to guide us.

Jeremy you again hit the nail of the head. JJ is stuck as the little boy. He sees Will and many other his classmates grow and mature and he does not. I think that must be hard on him. We as readers know he will grow and mature. Maybe he will turn into this big football player type, who knows. Except for JP all the people here are six feet or more. I am glad I'm not JJ It would be so overwhelming. Hopefully, surrounded by his family, the people that loved him, he will show that strength he showed on the ice.

What is so interesting is that after reading the saga over and over again, there are so few times, so very few times that I don't agree with how you've written a character. Over three million words and as a reader I have gotten to know these characters and how they would react to a situation. Almost all of the time you are right on to what I think. When Brad took the hammer to Robbie's car I was not happy but I could see Brad do it. I think that is remarkable. It shows how well crafted each character is. One thing that impresses me the most is how you have taken Will on his journey from a bitchy teenage to the young man we have now. Even Tim agrees with me and that is something.

To answer both of you. I feel that JJ's situation calls for everybody to step up and help. Wade may find this hard but I feel he will do the right thing. His is governed by duty, he has done a lot of things which were distasteful because they were the right thing to do. If this family who opened their arms for him needed his help how could he not help. I think both Matt and Will are going to help Wade and JJ with this. Back to my feeling that Jeff is another Hayes boy. Mark has repeaded a number of situtions in the past. I feel they only make the story richer. Many of my friends have started reading the saga and have been overwhelmed with all the characters. Which is sad. I think they only add to the richness of the story. It makes the saga more real, about real people. One of Mark's great strengths is that his characters jump off the page. They seem to have the same flesh and blood we do. They have the same problems, same joys and same sorrows. We can relate to them better than any other characters. This is what brings me back time after time. Honestly I hope Jeff is related to Robbie and the Hayes's it would only heighten the interest and tension.

It is not often that I agree with both Tim and Jeremy, but I do in this case. I think the comment about Matt acting as a blue blood and not as his white trash roots was good. Matt did not know unti; he was 18 about his origins. Part of this as modified because of Robbie's wealth and his relationship to the family. Even JP sided with Matt over Brian from the beginning. Matt just fit in to the family seemlessly. The people who had a harder life, Marcel. Gathan, and both Jeffs did not. Look how Wade fit in, He was not from any of the three families but seemlessly fit in . This last story show us how true it is, Almost 100 chapters and the duo of Wade and Will work so well. Why do Gathen and Marcel work better as side characters than narrators? I believe we as readers were and are more invised in Wade and Will than we were in Gathen and Marcel. The only big surpise is Matt. I think he came across more likable and because of his kidneys and his qwest to find his father he won us over. Tim called my storyline twisted, I'm not sure about it being so twisted mainly because many of these things have happened before. an adopted child, a clue dropped chapters before and those Hayes looks all make it possible. Whether Jeff is a long lost part of this family or not isn't the point Jeff has been a interested character so far, he also has more polish than Gathan has. most of the time he has come across as a good guy, and the other times make him even more interesting.

Being an adopted child, I can understand Jeff. Matt has always been hot headed. Ok as I read this chapter last night, a thought came to mind. If I remember Robbies sister had a child. What if that child he been adopted out and what if that child is Jeff. Remember way back when Stef found him at the mission. How much Jeff looked like his namesake, Jeff Hayes. Qhat would make Matt and Jeff cousins. If that is true, now Jeff's feelings make more sense. All the actions that happened like his afair wwith Wade and even his difficultes with Will at first, How the recent situation will Robbie would certainly be put in a new light. Maybe people need to check their partners DNA before sex. Other thing which was brought to mind is that Wade has gone through this and maybe could help JJ. I understand that Wade and JJ arn't close but Wade could really help JJ iron out his feelings. Well Mark you continue to amaze me and all your readers with each chapter. As for the next story, maybe a new Hayes boy, Jeff?

You are correct, all the members of this family will have to help and I am sure they will, but Will had to be the first, Why? Because Will and JJ hadn't got along for such a long time. JJ needs to know that this is real, not just someone going through the motions. When Will said to JJ that he loved him it meant something. It gave JJ hope. It will be a long road and the sad thing is that JJ can't confront the coach, not like Wade and his father did. It has taken Wade many years to rebuild that relationship. It will take JJ even longer. Surrounded will his family he can do it.

My last response disappeared so I will try to recreate it. Will is the loud one. He ruins cars, clothes, and runs away. JJ is the silent screamer, His cries for help are dismissed as bitchiness. Will finially got his safe foundation and is transformed. Only then could the family see JJ's problems. Michaels pictures showed them what they had over looked. Then it was Will's quick mind and fast actions that saved his brother from bleeding to death. It is easy for JJ to be over looked. He was the middle boy. Darius with a natural charm and coolness. Will as Brad's favorate. That left JJ with Jeanine. The only thing JJ had was skating. Without it he had nothing set him apart, to make him special. JJ short not mature was often overlooked and overshadowed by his two more out going brothers. All of it fits. His coach tells him he loves him more than all the others. A perfect trap which JJ feel into. So what happens now? JJ needs to know he is loved, not the love which the coach gave him, but the real love which his family can give him. Again Will is the one to do that. Hopefully, with a lot of help JJ can recover. I think he can because underneath it all he has a same tuffness which Will has.

I am also glad that the family didn't kill the coach. As David saidWill took this the hardest of the five. The others have dealt with this before, Will has not. Becaue of how this happened the family can help the other boys even Danny and Davey. Now after all the paid, I see the relationship between JJ and Will grow into two brathers who are close and who can rely on each other. Will again has helped his family, in reaching out to JJ, and in showing Brad and the rest of the family this is not the way to handle people. Again I agree with David that Will see the world in Black and White and very little gray. Maybe that with change. However, knowing his mentor Tonto, maybe being the conscience of the family is not alway bad. Mark again you have given us another great chapter. I know we are getting to the end of thi book and you have doubled the number of chapter you normally write but it seem like Paternity is like the river we both live close to. It just goes not with new adventures at every turn. Thank you Again for this wonderfull story.

Honestly, I was hoping it was just an accident. Not of the family';s doing. If that is not so, ( you didn't really say one way or the other) it will be hardest on Will. Once the family has met Davey and Danny I doubt that Davey and Danny will not be coming back. If JP showed a crack ( only Wade saw it ) how much more will Will? JP has a departmentalized mind does Will? You can rationize that by killing their father you have saved the boys. However, in the long run I think that runs thin. Guilt is a force which plagues this family, from JP to Brad, Isidore to Robbie. JJ will have his share now too. Can Will bare the heavy weight? He is a strong kid tougher than some would think but still he cares a lot about people. He is still his great grandmothers (Tonto's ) great grandson. As for Michael, I think he should not get off scot free. He let this happen, Made it worse. The only good is that the pictures he took brought the evil to light. Maybe lost at sea could be his fate.

When the five met, they said that Brad or whoever would not do anything with out them knowing about it. So either Brad has done it and not told the others. This was an accident, a real accident. I think the shock of meeting the family, having them in your home took JP and Will back a bit. I'll have to read this over again but why didn't Stef react? My quess is that Brad didn't do this on his own. Either someone else did or it was a real accident. An act of God? Maybe this family is more religious than we thought, or it has alot more power just wishing something and making it happen.