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So Maateo wonders " How do you unlove someone who never stopped being the love of your life?" Maybe he should instead wonder "how dies one walk away from the love of one's life, stay absent for SEVEN years without any communication to said love of one's life, and turn up expecting that person to have frozen his life for seven years without any sign of life". Jace has nothing to be ashamed for, and nothing to hide. He needs to go home and explain the situation thus husband right away. Anything else will lead to misunderstanding and heartache and Elijah already has his " I told you so" ready and waiting.

This is beautifully done, @Tony S.. You set the stage with the three characters effortlessly, and convey their redirecting inner thinking and emotions in perfect balance. I started reading thinking I was in for a good story about a young man swept up in ambition and hero worship, only to find an interwoven tale of three men, each at a different life stage, and each experiencing a similar but subtly different emotional and sexual tension. You describe each one so masterfully I can't wait to read on. What a wonderful start!

Ditto! And this story gets better with each chapter! Bravo!

I plead guilty to having seen Keith all along from his dad’s perspective. I never considered that his resentment might have stemmed from being left “holding the bag”, trying to preserve what was left of the family after his dad walked out. This has been for me the best chapter thus far. It was an honest outpouring from Keith that explains what he felt and why, wrenching honest, emotionally searing. “But you never tried,” Keith went on, voice shaking. “You left us. You left me to pick up the pieces…” That is something we tend to overlook in our stories that underscore the absolute necessity for the gay man to be true to himself. I agree with that. One hundred percent. But this is the first time I’ve seen in these pages a brutally honest effort to consider some of the possible unintended collateral damage that such necessary honesty can cause to others. I think I understand Keith a lot better now. He felt left to deal with an impossible situation by himself. He was only 17 when it happened—one day out of a clear blue sky, his world is upended, and the one who upended it is gone without an attempt to help him deal with it. I really do understand that resentment now. I hope his dad can make this right—in my eyes, it’s all up to him now.

What I struggle with, in each of your stories, @vanalas, is that your protagonists often seem unable to perceive the ugliness of soul of some of the people they trust. Why does Alex not recognize the vileness of Leo's character? That recognition would have prevented him from falling into the trap Leo set for him. And did Gael not see how smug and self-satisfied Leo was at their bedroom confrontation? I get that he was in shock and felt betrayed, but I hope he eventually remembers what kind of person Leo is, and believes not one word of what he said, so at least Alex has a chance to explain. But of course, that would drain away all the drama wouldn't it?

Carlos called and asked Gael to meet him. Bad stuff happened. Mia called and asked Gael to meet her. Worse stuff happened. Is he really that naive, that stupid? It is really starting to seem that way. With the high-stakes game he and Sam have been playing, he should be super careful and MIStrustful.

My question is-- where did Keith's virulent homophobia come from? He didn't learn it from his parents-- his little brother is proof of that. Before his outburst in this chapter, I had thought it was primarily his anger at his father for breaking up the family, but now I suspect there's more to it than that. Could his dad's coming out be making him confront things about himself that he didn't want to, or know how to, deal with?

First, @JJ Quinn, this chapter was worth the wait. I really liked how Tak brought some levity and irreverence into his interaction with Sev. I'm glad that Sev didn't manage to push Tak away--this light-hearted evening seems to be just what he needed. I hope the two men really become tight and deep friends, to counterbalnce Aidan, and that Tak brings Sev home to meet his mom and grandma--maybe that will also help Sev, two firm maternal hands. I am starting to suspect that this budding relationship will be the thorn that prompts Aidan to reexamine his true feelings for Sev, and that Tak will be the to keep Sev's feet on the ground. Can't wait for tgr next instalment

I knew Gael should have kept his distance from Carlos--now, Alex has been trapped in this web of nastiness and deceipt, and who knows how it will turn out. I just hope Gael's vengeance on Ian will be worth all that he stands to lose in trying to get it.

Gael needs to put some serious distance between himself and Carlos. Carlos did nothing to protect him from Ian, let him languish in prison, and now he wants Gael to comfort him because his asshole dad has been exposed? Gael must do NOTHING to endanger his relationship with Alex. Ciwardly Catlos isn’t worth it.

Where does this story take place, that Gael can be kidnapped and imprisoned and tortured at the whim of a homophobic asshole and then essentially bartered away to a gay version of thr homophobic asshole? Accept the deal, Gael, get out of jail. Marry the new asshole, and then find some way to bring your situation into the public domain. Embarrass them all! Starting with Carlos!

I surely hope that Amanda is satisfied now, for it was surely she that informed Natalie about thentrystbbetween Carlos and Gael the night before. I do feel sorry for Natalie, though, as she'll probably lose the baby. But if, as I expect, the wedding is now off, I hope and pray that Gael does leave and separates himself from Carlos. Carlos really has screwed everything up, for Gael and for Natalie, and for himself. I understand why, I even sy,pathize, but he can't or at least shouldn't expect now to have Gael fall into his arms as so eking of consolation prize. But he won't do that, will he? HE ISfar too terrified of his asshole father.

I'm loving Aaron. Hope he does make it into the Brotherhood next year. And who knew Q could be so quirky? Loving that too!!!

Once the wedding is over, I hope Gael can leave that house and strike out on his own. Break with his past and try to start over somewhere else, where he doesn't have to face Carlos aand he can look out for himself and not have to deal with that shrew, Amanda--I can see already that, in the finest traditions of your "bitch villains" @vanalas, this newest bitch is not going to stop trying to torment Gael, even after the wedding.

This chapter was simply beautiful! As I read about Kieran's thoughts and reactions and urges, his self-recriminations, and the hopelessness of trying to resist the bond, and then gradually, unwillingly at first, but then more and more accepting his feelings and now, finding things about Rory to love--it was perfect, perfectly balanced between the warring thoughts and feelings that Kieran experienced. And how gratifying, to Kieran and all of us readers, to see how elegantly Rory put that bitch Scarlet in her place! This was a great read and I can hardly wait for the next chapter! Thank you and Bravo

In the end, I confess I liked this story, @ChromedOutCortex. Michael could have had his atonement, could have built some kind of relationship with his children...but he waited too long to try. His frailty. You brought all to a bittersweet, but entirely believable end, but with no info on Michael's warped parents, who apparently outlived him, in great misery and bitterness I hope.

I am sure Michael is really devastated that the kids and Sarah haven't contacted him. I am sure he really feels remorseful, now. BUT, I still have zero sympathy for him.. I cannot ignore the fact that that he let TWELVE more years pass after he contacted Andre before trying to reach Nate and Sarah. I still think that if he hadn't had that diagnosis, he'd just be continuing his contented life with David. He may have changed a lot for the better, but this situation shows that he is, still, a very self-centered person. He's trying to assuage his guilty conscience now, before he dies. But his conscience has been guilty for twenty years (as the letters he wrote to his former family indicate) yet it still wasn't enough for him to take that step. Sarah may be big enough to grant him some satisfaction, but I do t think he has deserved any consideration at all from her.

If Mucahel had reached out to Nate and Sarah at the same time as he reached out to Andre, I'd have supported it. Instead he got comfortable and built hus lifecwith David. Ok. Now, though, to want come back and disrupt everybody's life so that he can get some kind of closure as his own life visibly runs out, that usually the epitome of selfishness and self-indulgence. Once again, it's all about Michael. I somehow think Sarah will probably agree to meet him. She always was a strong and compassionate person, and she may well have forgiven Michael long ago. I really hope the three children refuse to meet him, though, or better yet, that Sarah refuses to even tell them that Michael has reached out. He stayed away from them for 20 years. They do t need him now. That would be karma.

This illness is what will overcome his decades-long procrastination in making amends. His time is running out. But after so long, what is really the point? He hasn't even been in contact with anyone from his past life. Reaching out now! When it is Michael himself that is in extremis, can only be a palliative to his own conscience, and after so much time, that conscience can't really still be a very powerful driver. Apart from making himself feel better, perhaps, all he might accomplish is to inject a disruption into the lives of those he left behind all those years ago. He's made an unexpected and really good transformation in himself. He needs to be satisfied with tgat.

Wow, the self-centered cheating asshole is evolving into a real mensch! Michael seems to be developing a real set of values, a sense of belonging in the community (through the coffee shop), and a pride in his achievements there. It's a shame that his progress in owning up to his past and trying to make amends seems to have stalled after his effort with Andre. I'm not sure that he's not using the takeover and expansion of the coffee shop as an unconscious tool of avoidance. I think the time is approaching for him to seriously consider a romantic relationship with David, but he may find that David would expect him to finish clearing up the baggage from his past before the two of them can go beyond the friendship/ business partnership level. Maybe Michael needs another session with Mama Loretta to stiffen his resolve. It's been amazing how you've charted this journey of personal development so credibly, @ChromedOutCortex. You have handled the transformation of Michael's personality, with all its realistic difficulties and uncertainties, so well that I find myself actually hoping it all works out well for him, especially with David. Six weeks ago, I wouldn't have considered that outcome to be even remotely possible. I'm really enjoying this sequel. Thank you!

Sorry, premature post... So Jeremy, with all his resources and knowing deranged Dexter was on the loose, leaves his twins some place where Dexter can get to them?!?!? I would have thought he'd keep his nearest and dearest close and guarded until Dexter was brought to justice... Oh well, Carter will have to save the day again!

OK, so Jeremy, with all his resources, knowing D

This story goes from strength to strength, @empath, and i amazed at how masterfully you deal with some of the most wrenching issues imaginable. I found myself engulfed in rage as you described the plight of the victimized boys, and yet uplifted by the ways that some of the adults have stepped up to help heal these innocent victims and gently lead them back to a life with hope. You have created many totally believable and engaging characters in gripping side-plots, and it is nearly as interesting to me to follow their doings as to await, impatiently, further developments in the main storyline. This story is an emotional Rollercoaster, to be sure, but it is also one of the most compelling tales I have read in a long, long time. I hope and pray that you keep us tied to this story for many months to come. Bravo, and Thank You!

I don't understand why Jack is constantly hanging around the family and Claire, whom he continues to betray. Surely she no longer feels for him what she used to, it even seemed for a while as if she was starting to move on with Luke. Why does she continue to bring the scumbag into the heart of her family, and when is JP going to realize that he owes Jack no loyalty after his behavior? Maybe Brad or Stef needs to take Jack to the side and explain that he has forfeited the right to sit at their table through his despicable treatment of Claire. And he should go take his little girlfriends to dinner at age-appropriate establishments, like Olive Garden.

Laura is willing to go as far as murder (Matthew) and attempted murder (Carter's dad) in order to keep her son with her, subservient to her. I don't get it--why this inordinate insistence on preventing her son from being a man in charge of his own life, still living under her roof? It really seems to me that virtually all the mothers in your stories suffer from this grasping need to keep their sons on their leashes, @vanalas, it's like a syndrome. What I also do not get -why these sons, otherwise accomplished and self-confident adults, put up with that s**t. But...it does make for good stories. It will all come crashing down on her soon enough, and I hope it rips Dexter down the drain at the same time.