Andrew Q Gordon

Blue - Thanks Though some might say it is not lucky to have twins, I am going to say I am lucky no matter what so long as we have a happy healthy child(ren) Happy new Year and thanks for thinking of us. Dargon - Thanks Mate, when are you and yours going to show the world what awesome parents you can be Amelia - I appreciate the encouragement, it sometimes has been frustrating and disheartening given how long it has taken but I agree, 2011 is going to be the year - I can feel it this time

Four hundred characters is too few for the update I want to make so I'm going to post it here. As many might know/remember, Mike and I are trying to have a child(ren). We tried traditionally surrogacy - commonly referred to in technical medical circles as the 'turkey baster method,' but after 3 attempts that proved unsuccessful. The fertility Dr., who I found to be a wonderful doctor, told us that statistically further attempts would end up costing us more than biting the bullet and going with IVF (In Vitro Fertilization), despite IVF being WAY more money. He explained that statistically, surrogates who do not get pregnant after three attempts generally do not get pregnant with more attempts. Not to say it wouldn't happen, but more attempts failed far more often than succeeded. Chance were, that if we tried more times, we would still end up at IVF, but would have spent more on the unsuccessful attempts. This left us with a hard choice. We could keep trying the less expense method and hope we were one of those 10% cases where the surrogate would get pregnant after 3 attempts or we could go with the more expensive but much more successful method. Just so we are clear - each traditional attempt was about $1500-1750 with ultrasounds, travel fee to the surrogate, her fee per attempt, etc. But there was also the added cost of having enough 'boys' there for the insemination attempts. Five days in California, donating as often as was medically recommended, cost a bit over $1000 and yielded enough for just 3 attempts. And that didn't account for lost work etc. IVF on the other hand was wildly more. $14,500 to the clinic, then there was an egg donor fee, fertility drugs, anesthesia costs, fertilization costs and all of that was just for one attempt. Now the clinic has their insurance package, which for a tad under $5,000, you get many more attempts than one. Basically, when they get the eggs, they fertilize them all at once, they only use 2-3 per attempt. SO if you have more than 3, you can keep them frozen and use them for future attempts free of the $4100 per attempt charge AND you get a full second go round if needed as well. But if she gets pregnant on the first time - and 90% do, you do not get a refund. Given our luck so far, we bought the insurance package. We felt we had to. If it didn't work, if was another $20,000 plus to try again, money we just couldn't afford. Okay, so - we are on track again - sometime in the next two weeks [i'm not clear exactly when, I'll find out more on Tuesday when the surrogate has another ultrasound] we will make another attempt. I really hope this works, because even with the insurance and other attempts we're entitled to, I'm getting really anxious [and older by the day. ] So with that - here's to 2011, the year I finally get to be a dad. Now watch, we get twins or more. Andy

Hey, thanks for commenting, always appreciate it - Glad you could feel the characters - Anyta has been working overtime helping me bring out that part of the story - she hates when I give her kudos but its true. I hope things stay as focused going forward. The ending has me worried the most - but we have a bit to go before that. Andy

I promise as I get closer to the end, I will post quicker - I just want to get all the chapters edited and ready before I start posting faster. As for a happy ending - not sure I can promise that. Sorry - If Peter survives they have a lot to work out - OMG I sound like Nephylim when we were pestering her about Rowan and Astrin in Hostage. I am pretty close to having it all done, so it won't be two a week for too long - that much I can promise.

Geez Imo, did you get a copy on the next few chapters??? Yes to all you said. As for Jordan, remember when we first learned of him and his fraternity it was about a year prior to this incident. Now he is a Junior and one of the older members of his fraternity. So he is no longer the peon and low man on the pole. Um that and it was literary license since I needed there to be a few people or else how would anyone believe he took out Peter? Hopefully the next few chapters keep everyone engaged, there isn't going to be a quick resolution of this so I hope I don't bore you all. Thanks my friend, I always like hearing from you. Andy

I am glad he is not my friend too, though I did write it so many in some weird alternative universe he is

Everyone kept thinking accident, it is a good thing this was the very first chapter I wrote of the story or else everyone would think I changed it just to avoid the common perception that he had a motorcycle accident. As for Jordan, his fate will be revealed at the end - promise. Thanks for reading and taking the time to write me. Next Chapter should be up Monday.

It's a good thing Anyta.. however, i do.. and I'm looking at my nails... and there's nothing left to chew... my fingertips are already pulp! Please write faster Andy... The fate of the Karate kid is in your hands! The Soccer Boy is in too much pain! hugs, Frosty Sorry Frosty but you might want to get some thick leather gloves, it will be several chapters before we find out what the prognosis is for Peter - sorry but it wasn't a little tap on the head, it was a serious beat down that, if he survives, will not resolve itself over night. Writing faster isn't the issue, posting faster is what you really want - two a week until I get closer to the end. That's about as much as I can promise AND still stay employed

Barbara is many things, but not behind this. She still is going to figure in these events, She isn't done by any means. But for Peter being beaten almost to death, I wonder if Erin would be so heartless - and by that I mean, she would probably sit Peter down and smack some sense into him. Here, well she is scared, angry and without anyone to lash out at. When she hears about what happens between the two, she over reacts, at least until Amanda sets things straight. As for Peter - well I can't say more just yet. . Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate all the feed back. [Awesome screen name by the way ] Andy

Twenty five was actually the first chapter I wrote - everything built around this one, don't ask me why this is the point from which the story grew, but it was the focus of the entire story - the rest of it sort of took shape to fill out this part. Hopefully by the end it will all fit nicely together. Thanks for all the encouragement, you are as I said before, a wonderful person, dark lady or not

Oh mom isn't done by a long shot - not yet at least. Just wait a few chapters for the next act.

remind when I am finished with this story to tell you about my mom and me - not saying she was like Barbara - I only wish she had that much money , but just remind me - otherwise I might give away too much. and I need to keep people close to the cliffs or else I might not be in contention to be crown queen

Thanks Mike, I was hoping Peter's mentor being his Martial Arts Instructor didn't come off as cheesy but given how non-existent dad has been, his teacher sort of filled in the gaps. Can't say what will happen, that would be giving away too much but, I can say it will more than a few chapters until we find out what happens to peter - sorry, won't be waking up in the next chapter or three.

Thanks Anyta, not just for reading but for helping me - you are an amazing friend for all the help you have given me - As for whether Peter will pull through hmmm, only two people know what happens to the end - and hopefully my beta reader won't tell anyone

Jason barely noticed the nurses and orderlies as he searched for Peter. With every room he passed, his stomach tightened. Room 313, Peter’s room, was nearly dark when he arrived. Inside, a nurse stood at the foot of the bed looking at something. Sitting beside the bed, near Peter’s head, Jason could see the arm of someone he assumed was Mrs. Gregory. “Son, you are not permitted in here.” Old enough to be his mother, the nurse stopped what she was doing to direct Jason away. “Family only

So I ignored your suggestion I skip the chapter, but it's okay, my ears only burned a little. Couple points - there is no way they can 'french kiss' just no way. That would be like eating Boston Creme pie. While they can say a lot of the say expressions we have , France doesn't exist to them so they can't french kiss. Kiss deeply, passionately etc, but not french kiss. Sorry, there have to be some rules when you create your own world and one of them is keep this one out of it LOL Second, what happens if Kian is separated from Dylan or the other Valion knights?? Will he go insane with lust?? Seems crazy that the gods would make an Omega a rarity AND in danger of being f**ked to death. I mean given how things are, the life expectancy of an Omega has got to be rather short. Short but OH so memoriable I guess Reading Chapter 9 now, so soon to be caught up -whew.

Thanks Paige, I appreciate hearing that people enjoy it, I have to say - all modesty aside - I really didn't expect so many people would like it. My partner said it was good, but he loves me so I kept that in mind when he said it. Anyway, I think folks are going to be disappointed with Chapter 25. Oh well it's written, beta'ed and edited so it stays as it is LOLThanks again for taking the time to comment, it is always nice to hear.Andy

The color e-reader wasn't that much more in absolute dollar terms - 149 vs 249 - which is about 67% more I know. But we bought both our moms color e-readers. The color ones allow you to get your magazines on line which are usually best in color not black and white. That said, I know nothing about the merits or demerits of e-ink vs other stuff but I can say the computer screen has been giving me eye strain quite a bit lately so maybe that is what I need LOL.

Yeah, I know it was obvious in a few places, BUT what is obvious to the reader, wouldn't be always be to the main character - right? please? I guess Barbara in my mind is not they type her son would give an ultimatum too - she is not to be trifled with if you want to stay on her good side. We will see, maybe she will be forced to kiss your backside in the end. Next chapter in a few days. But not sure that is going to answer all the questions sorry but there are a few more chapters to go. Andy

Monty, I suppose it was a bit obvious when you heard the sirens and stuff, I mean, if it was important, why write about it right? But who knows, so much can happen. And as for Royce [not Ross ] it's a tough act, wife you love, child you love, family you love. Tell me you wouldn't want to find a way to keep them all. Next chapter will be up this week. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting. Andy

Yeah it is all written and frankly I . . . well you will have to wait a few chapter to see if the two get work this out or not. As for what happened to Peter - well somewhere amongst these reviews and responses, I left a hint, thanks all I can say. Thanks for the comments. Andy

Imo, Thanks as always - just one thing: [don't read if you don't want to know.] Next chapter will up by end of the week. Andy

Simon, I can't say what happened to Peter - well I can but I won't Sometimes we can do more than we think if pushed - I will get 25 up this week so I won't keep y'all waiting too long. Thanks for taking the time to comment, always appreciated. Andy

Ok first, you write LONNNNGGGG Chapters. have you thought about breaking them into more smaller one?? Please?? LOL I sound like a broken record but damn this is amazing in it's imagery. You bring us into this warped world of Zanda yet don't let your characters get lost in the detail. Very nice. I sense conflict between Dylan and Kian. Kian may have said he understood what being an Omega meant - oh what we do in the throes of love - but I wonder if he is having second thoughts now that Dylan is telling him he is his 'bitch' and his pup. Clearly Kian has no intentions of being subservient to anyone other than Tethyr - not even Dylan. Until the rabbit said it, I didn't quite grasp the significance of their opposite natures. Valion Knights are knights in the truest sense. They protect the innocent. Kian, is an assassin for whom innocence, right or wrong have no meaning - just fill the contract and move on. So I know i am a few chapters behind but I am getting there. Great work so far. Andy

Drew, Thanks for that review. I have tried - with help whom I am not allowed to mention it seems - to make this as real as possible. I appreciate hearing if it works - and if it doesn't so I can work on it. I have a few more things to flesh out, then wrap it up. Thanks for reading and I appreciate that you took the time to write a review. Andy