impunity

I like this a lot! Looking forward to more.

Will's family are awful! And apparently have more money than he thought they did. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Will's future discoveries include some unexpected (and unwelcome) truths about his family.

Thanks for checking in. I don't think you have anything to apologize for. However, I hope real life gives you a break soon so we can get back to living in CAP and Bridgemont fantasy.

This was an unexpected and delightful Saturday morning treat. Thank you!

Incredible chapter! They just keep getting better and better. So, you were right about Neil's not wanting to come out at school immediately. It's amazing how that happens. And, yet, Clarissa managed to figure it out on her own. Looking forward to her (no doubt hilarious) confrontation with Liam and Doug. I think Neil's telling his side of the story is a good idea; however, my (extremely limited) experience with reporters is that it's prudent to select carefully the reporter one speaks with. Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

My first thought was, "Is Hammer blond?" But I agree, Wyatt Russell is very hot.

Well, that was a bit of a deviation. I really liked it. The characters were lovely. Also, hot cowgirls! It almost made me want to leave the city and find some to hang out with. Almost...I'm far too fond of cities to really do it.

True, but the main point I am trying to make is how much work JJ is putting into staying on the pedestal.

It's more than just the virgin persona, though. If I'd made that comment here, I'd probably have edited in an afterthought about JJ's constant plotting and scheming to keep Alex interested in him, which the virgin persona is part of. He still seems very insecure in their relationship, which is very reasonable in light of recent events.

It makes me a little sad that JJ the need to maintain his virgin persona with Alex, even in the throes of passion. On the other hand, it makes for really good entertainment. No worries about the delays. We all get busy. It still astounds me that you are able to be as prolific as you are with all your other commitments.

I expect he is just busy. He was online 3 days ago. (Not sure whether to feel sleuthy or stalkerish now.)

This may be my favorite chapter so far. I love how not only the team but the whole club rallied around Neil to protect him. I also love the irony that you and Sammy Blue pointed out in Neil's father's desire to protect Neil, when Neil perceives his father as the person most likely to harm him. I don't see why Neil would feel the need to stay in the closet at school after he has come out to his parents. After all, keeping it from his father was his primary motivation for staying hidden in the first place. He is no longer being bullied, and Doug and Liam couldn't very well attack him for being gay, anyway. My guess is he'll tell Clarissa, at a minimum, and also "Alf". Btw, how far is Neil's town from Lilydale? Would continuing to go to school there be too far of a daily commute?

Thank you.

How about Lord Merton from Downton Abbey? Sorry, I have no idea how to post a photo? Could you post one for me?

Prenatal DNA testing this early was not available in 2002, although it is now (by a blood test of the mother at 8 weeks or later). The more invasive testing would have been available at 10-12 weeks (chorionic villus sampling) or 14-16 weeks (amniocentesis) -- http://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/paternity-testing/. Mary Ellen would be 6 weeks along at this point if the baby was conceived when she says it was.

So, there's no getting around the fact that Mary Ellen lied to JJ. I'm glad he figured out how awful she is. Not the most auspicious start to his 18th year, though. I love that Mary Ellen will need to be chaperoned in London; I doubt she has any idea of how restricted her movements will be now that she has manipulated her way into the Granger family.

Not off by that much, though. Of course, there could have been someone in the interim that we don't know about.

Brilliant chapter from start to finish! I can't wait until the brat finds out about his dad's machinations. Neil and Liam/ALF continue to be adorable; Liam's monetary reparations were interesting but I can see why they would have freaked Neil out a little. I'm still hoping they end up together after the inevitable fireworks; hopefully Neil will realize that Liam's stalking isn't that different from his own recent actions with Jim. Of course, we have to get through the acute parental crisis first!

I think JJ's more the sort of trendsetter who makes an appearance at a fashion or food event and expects other people to blog about it.

I definitely see his wanting his name on something ridiculously expensive and exclusive...a JJ Schluter original (whatever that turns out to be). Advising other people's fashion choices is a service industry, no matter how rich or famous they are. I can't see JJ's choosing a career that involved any sort of service, even if he could get away with being bitchy to his clients.

Another great chapter. Looking forward to seeing what they find. I'm not sure I understand exactly what gammaS are and why they have periods of fugue. Apologies if you explained somewhere and I missed it.

I think JJ would be extremely insulted if anyone suggested he needed help giving fashion advice.

I don't see JJ's being interested in anything as tedious as modeling. I'm picturing high-end designer...the sort that does the creative bits and has minions to do the actual work.

JJ is a narcissist and an attention whore. I expect he'd find anyone who was willing to let him be the center of attention at least somewhat attractive. If Mary Ellen has started her prenatal care (no guarantees there), she's probably been reasonably thoroughly tested, certainly for HIV, hepatitis B , and syphilis. The rest might not have been tested for unless she had symptoms, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have them.

It's still bothering me that JJ is feeling pressured into sexual situations that he is not comfortable with. Sure, he ended up enjoying it, but he is a 16-year old kid with two 20-something-year-old sexual partners who have their own agendas. Also, testing "negative" is not really enough. With Mary Ellen's dubious sexual history, I'd be more worried about HPV or herpes. I found the whole scene more than a little disturbing. Except for Mary Ellen's instructions which were a little bizarre and pretty funny. On the other hand, Nana's social conventions were delightful. And JJ's little joke at the end (and Matt's extreme discomfort) was both hilarious and adorable. (As an aside, unless my recollection is faulty, Matt has now turned down propositions from both JJ and Will. Very impressive!)