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This last chapter has brought some very interesting things to light. Has Kristin's father really molested her? If so Gathan and her are in the same boat. Kristin has became a very powerful women. Maybe much more than Gathan was expecting and can handle. God help anyone who messes with her man. I have a feeling something else is hiding in the background, I think Gathan and Kristin need to get out of Clairmont soon and get to the safety of California before civil war begins. On the other side I don't understand this situation with Will's clubwear. Why did JP take the picture of Will? It seems out of character for him. What is going on? What would Brad think about it? I don't know about the rest of you but my interest in the story has changed. Before I was really into Will's side of the story. Gathan's story has regain my major interest. Will has moved to the background. I am not sure why but it is true.

Jeremy, no one could have said it better!! I salute you!!!

Question is why ASL failed to capture a following and Bloodlines did? Both Hayes boys both young, handsome, sexually active. Why did we love Matt but not Marcel? We like Wade and hockey players better than JP and Max? I love Wade the hockey players are hot!!! But Max is hot too!! JP may be older but even Matt thinks he still cute. So guys why?

i am not sure if even I want Jeff back. What is interesting however is how in this case the death of one person can change a lots of lives, When we wonder if we are important to others we need to look at Jeff or Aaron and how their actions changed countless lives.

Happy Bastille Day!! Is it Happy Birthday for Stef? Is he 66 this year?

Better yet in 1968 just after Brad got to California. At the moment JP was looking for Jeff. Before Jeff said he love Stef more. That way Mark could write the whole saga over. We wouldn't have to worry about the ending for a long time. Those of us who are crazy could compare the changes between the two stories to see how they changed. What do you think Mark? Is it a good idea? A new poll to see how many people will bring back Jeff? and when?

Please don't get me started. Now Jeff alive would really change things wouldn't it. Of all the people who died in this saga Jeff is the one I mourn. I miss Tonto but she would be almost 100. She is missed but her memory drives the family not to the forget about their home town. But Jeff off drugs and his old self would be something else. Can to imagine the threesome. JP would have to retire he'd be too worn out. Maybe that's how it should end. Jeff Hayes returns!!! What do you think Mark? Back from the dead on JP's 75th birthday.

i was surprised Kristen is moving out. Do her parents know JP is her great uncle? Besides that Jim, JP's brother is married to their great aunt. I also assume that her parents know that Gathan is adopted part of JP's family. Also Gathan has a close relationship to the mayor and his half brother, Brad. Throw Stef in the mix I doubt they will cause Gathan to much trouble. Of course we know Mark ( not Shirley ) has some hidden secret to be revealed.

This morning before work I read the latest chapter of PMS, then as I do I mediate on it. After rereading it again a few times I need to comment about it. Rarely does a author achieve what Mark did in this chapter. In Gathan's conversation with Kristin and one with Wally. I could hear the words being said and feel like I was there with them sitting in the back of the truck or on Wally's porch. Since Will has been narrating his part of the story Gathan has dropped into the background. Today with these simple heart felt words Gathan was bought more alive more real than ever. Only Mark could find Gathan's soul mate at a local cafe. Kristin is more than that, she is the only person who can heal him. My opinion of her has only grown chapter after chapter. Mark has said he is an atheist but I wonder if this story PMS is his penance for killing Jeff all those years before. Here is another troubled Hayes boy brilliant but flawed, wounded, filled with rage but with such a bright future if he can get past the pain. Surely Gathan can be saved when Jeff couldn't. Jeremy has said one of Mark's strengths is the repeating themes. This is one of them. It is what makes this saga so captivating. It is why we wait for each chapter so eagerly.

Just a thought: We take young men and women brake them down and teach them how to kill and then when they come back we wonder why they don't fit in. Many of them have seen things which no one should ever see. Done things no one should do, and we wonder why? If Mark sends Darius into Iraq or Afghanistan, guard him well. Remember Tonto is watching you.

I must agree with you. Kristin may remind us of the strong women of this saga. I think she has the strong will of Tonto and the smoothness of JP's mother Marie. Clairmont needs a strong couple like Gathan and Kristin. Maybe they can make Tonto proud. One thing I have forgotten about is Zack. What damage can he do?

If we were voting I would vote for Gathan and Kristin to remain together and Gathan have the occasional affair with a guy. I found Kristin a remarkable woman. How she treated Will after returning from the airport was wonderful. If Gathan lets her go he's nuts. As for Will, maybe this trip to Rome will bring him love too. Is he like his father fluent in Italian? I can't speak for the others but I find Will compelling not as much that he is gay, but more for him being Will. A person of his word. Someone who stands up for what he believes. In a world of people who change their mind every 15 minutes, Will stands his ground. Most adults don't do that. Here is a 13 almost 14 yo who does.

After following this story for all this time, I have been able to see the method in Mark's tale. We see two young men growing up, looking for love and trying to understand who they are. Two parallel stories about two people who should not have met. Maybe only in the wonderful world of CAP could a rich kid from California and a poor one from Ohio met and help each other grow up. In the very first chapters we saw a really missed up Gathan. None of us would say he is perfect but he has come a long way. Will has also grown. Very few kids of his age I know have gone through so much but still seem undamaged. Mark once said JP over time changed . Brad transformed from the shy scared kid into what he is today. Some would say Brad becomes that kid every once and awhile. I see great things for these two. Gathan with Kristin and help from his new family. Will who I believe is so much stronger than his father, has a great future before him. I always wonder how Mark is able to come up with such a great story.

I hope your son is not reading this.

The more we read about Will the more impressive he is. We have to remember this almost 14 yo was kidnapped, sexually abused and finally the loss of what he thought was his soul mate. To live through that would be more than most young men could but not only that but befriend Gathan too and restore Gathan to sanity. What a remarkable family you have created Mark. If Gathan saves Kristin. They will just have to go to school together. How easy is it to get into Stanford? Of course some families have pull.

Will Gathan have a truly happy birthday? I believe he will save Kristen from taking the flight and saving her life. His action will be the best present he could get a happy lasting relationship. It will go a long way to heal himself.

Usually, we learn from the real world and apply it to the world of fiction. Maybe it because Mark is so good that we learn from fiction to help us deal with our real world. That's if the CAP world is fiction, sometimes I wonder about that.

After reading this new chapter again I would have to agree it is sad. However, it seems that Mark puts his characters through a great deal of pain, physical or mental or both so that finally they can have some happiness. I could list them but I am sure all of us know who they are. A few things do bring joy to my heart. Three new chapters in just a few days. It is like Christmas, New Years and my birthday all in one!!! Thanks Mark!! You are the best!!! The second thing is JP's presentation. Over the years we have seen JP wow not only his classes but most of his family. Comments have been from superstar to someone who can may his students laugh and cry at the same time. JP is a great teacher. Being a former teacher myself I can understand how good he is. Thanks to Mark I think we all can too. Sometimes I believe that " if " is the hardest word that we can speak or think; and the " what if's " can destroy you... I had a friend who did the "what if" game. He beat himself up over and over again day after day and drank himself to death. Let's hope none of these characters are caught up in that. I guess I have faith in Will to rise above the pain and move on. I have the feeling he is made of sterner stuff. It is very odd but of all the characters in this whole saga I like him the best. Yes better than Brad and even better than JP. I wish I knew why. It is just something about him that draws you in. Maybe I understand how he thinks. God knows its been a long time since I was 13, 14 years old. Maybe it just shows us how good Mark really is as a writer.

I thought this last chapter was great but I was interested to see JP was missing. I am not sure why. The previous chapter we see JP take charge as he does so well in the difficult situations. Will is comforted by Stef , then Brad and finally John. I felt all were great supporting but not smothering him. It will be a tough road but Will is pretty strong. All this reminds us of how this family works. I just finished rereading the whole saga in the last few weeks. Every time I do I gain insights into the characters. I wonder how Mark keeps them ( I was going to say straight ) . This book has developed into two parallel stories Gathan's life and Will's. At present I guess I find Will's more compelling. It's not that I dislike Gathan. It's that his love life just seems not as interesting as Will's I am not sure if it is the Gay vs Straight situation. Maybe at this point I relate more to Will. Thanks Mark again for the wonderful story and these great characters.

June 20th, 1936 is JP's birthday. So If he is still living, JP would be 75 today. Even though Mark has added the threat of cancer. JP has the best doctor around, Jack. I honestly can't see Jack loosing him. Claire would kill him. Happy Birthday JP! I wish you many more.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. I can't think of a better tribute for the day than the spoiler. Thank you Mark.

I can tell that Brad is one of those characters which divides people. You love him or hate him no middle ground, When I said Brad's death would be a great loss for the family I did not mean only those in LA but the family at large. I believe Brad has told us more of the story than any other character. God knows Brad is not perfect, deeply flawed, but with all his imperfections he is so much like us. He has spent his whole life trying to over come his awful past. Maybe he has tried too hard. But he has tried. He has come a very long way from the battered painfully shy kid we see at five years old . I feel, we as readers, should forgive him if sometimes he goes too far. After all he is trying to be a better friend, lover, parent and partner. If he can hold back and be a truly equal partner to Robbie, they will be great for each other and for the whole family. If Brad would die now however, I am not sure Robbie would be able to continue on. Brad supports Robbie in these kind of situations. "When you are weak I am strong, when I am weak you are strong." They need each other. Its truly wonderful, ever since that July 4th 20 years ago. Most straight couples can't say that. Others in the family would feel the loss. JP would continue on another loss weighing upon him , Stef would be changed forever. Claire and Jack would feel the pain. I lost my father at nine and my mother at 26, that pain never goes away. Isidore and Frank would worry about Robbie.Remember, Isidore has already lost one son. Then there is Matt, Wade, Gathan, Marcel, Max and Code who would be forever changed. Maybe the loss of Brad would fall hardest on Will. Yes maybe the family would not fall apart but it would be hurt badly. Think of Jeff, who had side lighted himself so many years ago, and JP still morns, still blames himself, still says what if I would have done more. Would they not blame themselves even more with Brad gone? That is of course why it won't happen. Much too sad. The Bradophiles were revolt and storm the gates. And of course the worst Tonto would raise from the dead (did she really die or is she living on some tropical island some place) and haunt poor Mark for the rest of his life. I remember Mark loves happy endings, Of course so do I.

I thought Mark captured the reactions of each of the characters perfectly. Robbie is not good in these situations. Remember how he reacted when Matt is in the hospital. Stef was on the edge of losing it but holding it in and of course JP was what he does the best dealing with the kidnapping of his son and grandson with unbelievable control. As for Gathan and Kirsten I believe they are just trying to lower the tension. At this point maybe JP should just hire David Sizemore, his family will need him full time. One thing we still don't know, What happened to Brad? Is he infected with HIV? I hope not. In many ways Brad is the glue which holds this family together. To lose him would be very hard for the family to bare. I do however have faith in Mark and his love for happy endings. If not JP will send Tonto after him.

My bets are that George with be on his way to London soon.

I like that!