travlbug

Also, if Davey had been with Brian, perhaps he would have been arrested as well. (All we know about Davey's escape is that he is last seen with security men loyal to Yeltsin and that, after Davey's incredibly brave attempt to shield Yeltsin, they would likely have facilitated his getaway.)

Brian is the one who actually provides reports to the CIA (whenever he returns on holiday from the Soviet Union). Davey may be more high profile in Russia itself, and he may be the one who gets Mika talking, but he is not the one who passes the information. If there is a Russian mole in the agency, then Brian's involvement with the CIA may be well known, and the KGB may have been biding its time (until now) to arrest him. Just a thought. 😊

Uh oh.

"Well?" Claudia asked. Toto and Michele exchanged a glance. "We… we’ll let you know," Toto said. Claudia spread her arms impatiently. "That’s it? You’ve got to give me more than that!" Claudia is such a girl! (Seeing the two together, she draws her own conclusions anyway. ) "G’night guys," [Dani] replied sleepily. "I’m happy for you." From the mouths of babes. Toto wakes with "...a vague image of wings." He says, "God, give us wings!" while in front of the church and by Michele's side. I love Toto's mention of flight: His spirit is soaring, while in contrast, Michele's is horribly burdened by a sense of familial obligation. Worse, his true self is weighed down by secrets, as he has not yet told his family. As Toto says, "All these secrets, they’re destroying you." The solution is obvious, but can Michele force himself to tell them? (His parents' response to the disclosure of Toto's kiss seems a complete roadblock to his oath that he "will never abandon his best friend again." To do the right thing, he will have to act like the adult he is growing up to be.)

Grocery shopping? No, Kyle. the stress handbook mandates ice cream (but shopping for ice cream is acceptable ). Hmmm. Jett's suggestion for Kim to meet with Megan at the therapist's office is not half bad, and kudos to Kim for considering it. (Please note that Kim is shifting responsibility to the therapist for the final decision in deciding to proceed with the meeting.) If Greene were actually considered for parole, a new murder charge would certainly derail it. I wonder if Jett will do some investigating on his own to see if he can find substantive evidence of murder. (If so, he's got his work cut out for him, considering the passage of time.)

I love male/male body swap stories, but I rarely see one offered (Laura Fox has an exceptional example on this site called The Box Shaped Heart.) I love that Stan and Don are opposites in so many ways, but they have just enough in common to help each other to a second chance. (A fresh perspective can be a good thing! ) Kudos to Stan for understanding that rumpled comfort, laughter, an arm around the shoulder, and a few extra pounds (representing true love) trumps being a fashion statement. And to think, he would have missed out on Rory completely if not for Don's non-gay but critical eye! I agree with @spyke: PROM would make a great series of short stories, but I'm more than happy with just this one. Thanks again, Brian, for another wonderful tale.

"A novel in 12 chapters." Not sure why I remembered it as 9, but clearly, my bad: I appreciate @drpaladin 's correction, and I echo his sentiments. 😊

Turns out that the beautiful Hotel Villa Cimbrone is on Via S. CHIARA! (A coincidence? 😉)

I think the only clue we have as to Chiara's reaction is Father Stephano's observation about "the kiss": “I know Chiara well, and I’m sure she would understand.” That said, I don't recall if Michele ever discussed it with her directly. Of course, if "a mother always knows," she may understand her son better than Michele thinks. (We have two more chapters to find out!)

Awww. I love that Daniele decks himself out as a miniature Toto for Gianni's birthday (do I detect a slight case of hero worship?) Oh, the seafood linguine at Da Rossi's! ("Hello, DoorDash?") "Michele’s chest hitched suddenly. 'This isn’t what I wanted, Toto,' he wept. 'You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, but I liked the way things were before. It was simple.'" While love has sneaked up on Michele, he has resisted his heart's wish, which explains his recent moodiness. Finally, when he gives in to his love, it's not with a hug or a kiss, but with a simple gesture: "Next to him, Michele moved ever so slightly, and Toto’s eyes widened as he felt his friend’s hand slip into his own." Michele is not as demonstrative as Gianni and Angelo, but I'm sure his love is just as deep. He has seen what the future has held for his 24 year-old role models, and his eyes are cast on his--and Toto's--own destiny.

At first, Maslyukov blackmails Brian into supporting paternity for Verakov, but "Sergei" and "Yuri" ultimately have a pleasant experience with "Mika" as "father," and Mika accepts and loves Davey unconditionally--unlike another father we all know. Mika's death is unexpectedly moving, and Davey's grief is clearly genuine. The idea of helping to guide Russia into the future from the inside is tantalizing but breaks one of the older Davey's hard-earned rules: Change the timeline as little as possible. By actively working for Yeltsin, our heroes are going beyond their original mission and putting themselves--and the timeline--at greater risk. Davey, Brian, it's time to go home.

"Making sure that [the Soviet system failed] again in this timeline was a worthy goal, even if it meant deceiving a nice old man who had suffered great loss already. It's actually sad watching the deception unfold, though Davey in particular is managing it well. "...This whole spy business was just a little bit hard on my nerves. When it was all over, I was going to make sure we never did anything like this again." Why wait? (Brian, get Davey and leave while you still can. [I hate spy thrillers].) It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the CIA is manipulating Davey and Brian for undisclosed purposes and setting them up for a fall.

A person died in association with her kidnapping and rape, so the doctor would have been charged with murder in addition to his other crimes. I can't imagine such an early parole under the circumstances (he's lucky he didn't receive the death penalty). Realistically, there's not a lot that Kyle and Meg can do about the truth of their existence, other than to come to terms with it. Meg should be prepared for complete rejection by Kim--and for good reasons! "The judge set aside funds for each one of the children that had been born." This passage bothers me more than any other aspect of the chapter. As the kids were "laundered" through a legitimate agency, they were traceable and given trusts. Megan and Kyle's adoptive parents would have been notified and have failed to inform them of either the truth or the trusts (and as far as the trusts go, effectively stealing from them even if the money remains untouched). The parents have a lot to answer for.

Alternatively, while Toto has an epiphany, Michele may arrive at his feelings as a gestalt of his experiences over time--Toto's deference/tenderness, his willingness not to push Michele in the 2 years since the kiss, his help with the acrophobia, his fierce protection in the presence of bullies, and perhaps even his brotherly affection for Daniele (Toto really is a sweetie, and he's good "Dad" material). Everyone is different, and it may be too simplistic to think that a particular event crystallizes Michele's love. (We still need to hear from Michele himself!)

Communication is key in any relationship, but what do you do when you have yet to find a way to put your thoughts and feelings into words? Michele has told Isabella what is in his heart, but he needs to tell Toto in just the right manner. The flashback: Michele, without his shirt, is described as "a skinny and lithe but awkward teenage figure," but this is not what Toto sees. Rather, Toto experiences an epiphany, which affects him profoundly (both physically and mentally) and changes the course of his life. We know that the kiss does not prove a trigger for Michele, but I'd love to know the event which ultimately makes up his mind.

Good to hear that the mad scientist has been dealt with. While his death was necessary to save millions--possibly billions-- of people, the taking of life can be devastating; and Sean and Brandon's "quiet" and "remote" demeanor (after the killing) is an expression of their underlying humanity. Spy in Russia? Davey and Brian are about to cross a line they don't need to cross.

My bad: As @weinerdog points out, Brandon does say that he will go with Sean to perform the dirty deed. My preference would be at least one person outside the home and two inside it (with the Mission Impossible theme song playing in the background! 😁).

Military school--I didn't see it coming. (I can just imagine Todd, with his long hair and "stoner" look, sporting a high-and-tight crew cut!) It proves a good choice for the boys and even leads to CIA internships and some hint dropping. What to do about the mad scientist? Sean volunteers to create the circumstances for an "accidental" fire, while the others provide him with an alibi. (He is acting as a single operative with no backup. Considering that the fate of the world could depend on this mission, a few reinforcements would not be amiss.) The gang is breaking up to attend different colleges--a tactical mistake? I would have thought that their goals would be best served by going to Whitman and then joining the CIA en masse, but perhaps a broader range of skills will prove more helpful. (At least, Brian and Davey will attend Whitman and can contact the others at need.)

Sebastian in cosplay? (Funny, he doesn't look like a prince. 😄🤣😂😅🤣) Actually, with a top of leather straps, he'll resemble a deck chair! (All the better for Milo to sit on his lap. ) Poor Kai, winding up as the filling in a BL sandwich. Clearly "BL hell." (He still thinks he's straight, but it's only a matter of time.)

“Looks like we all made it this time.” Davey said softly. “Yup, just like Brian planned.” Todd added. Apparently, Brian is the true mastermind for the present Do Over, and step 2 was to bring all six friends back in time! (Now we understand the true significance of Brian's query as to whether there was enough power.) Step 3 will involve the guys becoming a genius assassination squad--sort of. (I keep thinking of Weiss Kreuz without the flower shop. 😂) And step 4? Use the barn. A lot. Oh yes, this was going to be the best timeline ever. Okay, Brian, you are now officially doomed.

I love the dragon sequence. We find that the dragon eats goats, not people (probably too stringy), so she's not so bad after all. And Pepin's secret ability for fixing dragon eggs saves the day! (Kai, you should have asked Pepin about his other secret abilities. Or have him show you.... ) So Kai has now made an ally of the dragon, and Conrad must surely be counted an ally as well. It wouldn't surprise me to see Kai create a cadre of allies who will be available to help him in a time of need. And Pepin gets the kiss! (But just a little one.) The shower scene shows a deepening of Milo and Seb's intimacy, and they are both ready for more (as long as the hot water holds out! ).

Six years of imprisonment and torture (mental and physical), loss of education, loss of socialization, loss of the children, Heather's death--how do you reclaim your life after visiting hell? The family doesn't exactly sound supportive either. Kudos that Kim has created the semblance of a peaceful existence for herself. Now Kyle comes along and inadvertently causes her to experience a meltdown--or is there more to the story? Why would she need Jett's help if these atrocities are solely in the past?

People mature at different rates. Toto knows who he is and what he wants at age 14, while Michele has needed more time. (“After you kissed me,” Michele said insistently, “you told me...that you’d been thinking about it for months. I hadn’t even started to think about that sort of stuff back then.”) “You’re cute when you blush, Toto”: One of the top ten things straight guys don't say to each other. It’s not that easy to forget how I feel… especially when [Michele] starts giving me gifts and paying me weird compliments. When Toto asks Gianni how he knew that Angelo was interested in him, his answer uncannily reflects Michele's recent behavior. Salvatore and Marta...? Naaah. "I promise, I’ll tell him,” Michele said. “I just need to find the right time.” Perhaps Michele won't be as distracted in Toto's presence when he finally gains the courage to say what he needs to say. Of course, an overheard conversation is open to interpretation, so I could be wrong.... By the way, "Bella" could simply be "Anabella," so that Michele is not actually calling her beautiful. And why shouldn't he have his own confidante? (I love that Claudia takes it upon herself to find out more about Bella: She's a good friend.) The flashback says more about Enzo and his self loathing than it does about Antonio. While Enzo is an unsavory character, we can still feel sympathy for him. However, the closet forces Antonio to make lousy choices, including assaulting a younger teen; and the story makes clear that self acceptance is a much better alternative.

“How much power do we have?” I asked Sean who smiled happily. “More than enough.” He answered. The last Do Over was rushed, and Brian had only enough power to reach age 16, as opposed to his preferred target of age 12. (And look at the problems that cropped up for want of those extra 4 years!) However, if they have plenty of power, I have the sneaky suspicion that the preferred target age will again be 12. (He's got to meet Davey on that first day of 7th grade!) ❤ Our mini-brain trust has had years to prepare for this (final?) Do Over. The first part of their plan--commandeering the time machine--has worked out perfectly. Now what's the second part? An intriguing notion! I don't know if they would require 6x the power to send back all six friends, but if they have the power, then the benefits are obvious. That said, I still think that they would go back to age 12 to allow Davey time to fix the myriad problems with his family.

Thank you, Sean: Once again, you have saved the day. You are the most underrated hero of this entire saga. Ok, guys, you tried it your way (in this timeline's future), and you couldn't get past the crazy scientist and the Russians, let alone make it to the Irish separatists. (Who'd have predicted that Dr. Clockblock would be able to undo the jamming technique?) Back to the drawing board while grappling with Big Brother. Since the guys were campaigning for Dukakis, Ronald Reagan is still president, and he may be more amenable to working with them than Bush (who tortured Davey in a prior timeline). That said, the clock is ticking on the Reagan years, with Bush to succeed him in the near future. What then?