Date: 02/16/16 06:19 pm Title: Chapter 36
OMG! The whole comparing Howie to an annoying, needy dog analogy had me busting a gut. Too funny!! I probably shouldn't have read this during my lunch break as I definitely confused some of my co-workers by laughing away at my phone screen. Anyways, Nick was super adorable in this chapter. It's so sweet that he doesn't want to risk infecting Lauren, but they're going to have to work something out as they can't go the rest of their married lives without being intimate. Well, I guess they technically could ... but who would WANT to do that? Happy (belated) Valentine's Day! I hope yours turned out a bit better then Nick and Lauren's did. :P
Author's Response: Thanks! I cracked myself up writing the beginning of this chapter too. Glad you enjoyed! I feel for Nick and can kind of understand his perspective, but at the same time, he is being overly paranoid. Like you said, he definitely needs to get over this somehow if he and Lauren are going to have a healthy marriage. My V-Day was definitely better than theirs LOL. Hope yours was too! Thanks again! :)
Date: 02/14/16 06:32 am Title: Prologue
Oh, God, poor Nick and Lauren. My heart goes out to him; I cannot imagine being that afraid of intimacy. That woman has the patience of God. I hope this ends well for them.
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! I'm sure Nick is not used to feeling this way LOL. Lauren has had to put up with a lot, being with him in real life, and that's why I'm writing her this way. I'd like to think she would support him through something like this and put up with his paranoia.
Date: 01/31/16 11:27 pm Title: Chapter 35
Taking meds is never fun. I would have snapped at Nick if I was Howie too. So looking forward to more! :)
Author's Response: Yeah, things are going to be tense between those two for awhile, but they're starting to get better. Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I'm planning to post another update this weekend. :)
Date: 01/31/16 11:16 pm Title: Chapter 34
Paging Dr Carter! Loved that. Such a good story. Loved this chapter. :)
Author's Response: Sorry for the late reply, but thanks for the reviews! :) I just saw them. I am a big fan of ER from back in the day, so I loved the paging Dr. Carter reference too.
Date: 01/31/16 11:16 pm Title: Chapter 34
Paging Dr Carter! Loved that. Such a good story. Loved this chapter. :)
Date: 01/29/16 02:42 pm Title: Chapter 35
I actually hissed at that "gift that just keeps on giving comment". Damn! Hurtful much?? WOW! That being said, I think you have totally nailed Nick's behaviour. I can see him being bitter and holding a grudge over a small upset, so it's totally accurate that he would be pissed and a bit "mean" to Howie. It's totally sweet that he took him to his appointment though. Overall, I enjoyed the bromance and the day-to-day normalcy in this chapter. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE drama, but sometimes it's nice to have a break. :P
Author's Response: Thanks! I'm glad Nick's behavior and comments seemed believable, albeit mean. I do think it shows some level of "acceptance" that he's able to make jokes about it now, even if it's at Howie's expense. I wasn't sure this story would ever get to the point of "comic relief" when I thought of the idea, so I'm glad it's reached that point, too. The break in all the intense drama is nice, I agree! LOL Thanks again for the review!
Date: 01/20/16 05:17 am Title: Chapter 34
It’s been more than a year since I read chapter 22. I just now read the last 12 chapters of this story and it was well worth the wait. This is A+ fanfiction material here.
So many emotional parts. I was misty eyed when AJ told Nick about the liver failure, when Howie told his bandmates he was turning down the transplant, and when Nick was visiting a dying a Howie. I needed to take breathers to remind myself that Howie is okay and to prepare myself for a possible grim end to Howie’s story. Leave it to Nick and his dramatic self to make it so Howie had to experience near-death for him to be receptive to Howie’s pleas for forgiveness.
So cute of Howie to have a little unrequited crush on Nick. I always thought Howie seemed too grossed out by Nick to feel that way, but there’s gotta be a reason why they’ve grown closer in more recent years. After all the awkward and angsty moments between them the past few months, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for their bromance now that they'll be living together. XD
Author's Response: Aww, thank you so much for coming back to this story and leaving me such a nice review! Last year was not a very productive year for me in terms of writing; I kind of hit a wall with the whole transplant storyline and didn't have a lot of time to resolve it, but now that I'm over that hump, I'm feeling really inspired again and trying to stay that way. I'm glad you're still enjoying it too! I know what you mean; it's always nice when Howie shares pictures of his family looking happy and healthy so I can remind myself that this is just a silly fanfic. I love what you said about "leave it to Nick and his dramatic self" - so true!! I really do think Nick needed to see Howie near death for him to realize he doesn't hate him and move forward toward a place of forgiveness. I have never tried to write slash before, and I started this story (well, the original short story first) as an experiment to see if I could write it seriously, so it was interesting trying to figure out how one or both of them could have feelings for the other. I can definitely see why Howie would be grossed out by Nick, but I can also see how, in a slash universe, he would develop feelings for this new, more mature (and much hotter!) version of Nick we've seen emerge over the last few years. I love their bromance in real life, and even if it never develops into a real romance like Howie would like in this story, it's fun writing about their relationship either way. Thanks again for the feedback; I appreciate it!
Date: 01/18/16 06:37 pm Title: Chapter 34
Awwwww the end of this chapter gave me the warm-fuzzies! It's so nice to see Nick and Howie interacting with one another again in a way that is almost "normal". I really do think that Howie recovering at Nick's house is the right choice (although, like Nick, I initially thought that Lauren was a crazy person for suggesting it). On a side note, I also HATE having my blood drawn. I feel Nick's pain in that department!! :D
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! As much as I love the drama, it was nice to write the two of them having an almost "normal" conversation again. I'm glad you enjoyed it too!
Date: 01/16/16 09:12 pm Title: Chapter 31
Aw I loved the Unbreakable tour and the CD.
Yes, I can see how Howie would get a crush on Nick after those topless pics. He did look pretty hot! Don't like the sound of that wheatgrass shit though lol
Author's Response: LOL I figured if there was any one moment in time where Howie would feel a physical attraction to Nick, it was then. That People shoot was so hot!! Thanks for the review!
Date: 01/16/16 09:03 pm Title: Chapter 30
Oh god, I really don't see a way back for Howie now that all his organs are failing, but I hope this is the worst of it and he starts to improve.
I think Nick is realising now how Howie was feeling about it all. I hope he doesn't do anything silly either.
Great chapter!
Author's Response: Thanks! I think seeing Howie this way was the reality check Nick needed.
Date: 01/16/16 08:54 pm Title: Chapter 29
Loving having a few chapters to catch up on, my Saturday night is sorted :)
Yes, I can see how Howie could tease Nick over Holden's blonde hair lol. Oh poor Howie though, I'm just hoping he gets to have the transplant.
Author's Response: Thanks for catching up, Steph! I always enjoy your reviews. :) I couldn't resist having Howie make the same jokes we make about Nick and Holden. LOL
Date: 01/14/16 03:09 am Title: Chapter 33
Finally had a moment where I could sit and catch up? Cause trying to do it from a phone sucked. Loved it. For a moment I really thought you'd kill Howie! I mean we do have a thing for killing BSBs...can't wait for the angst that'll follow for Howie staying at Nick's. I get where Lauren's coming from but damn LOL. Loving it ZDR!
Author's Response: Yay, thanks for catching up and for the review! I don't blame you for falling behind; reading on a phone sucks, and trying to type reviews on a phone sucks even more. You know, I totally could have just killed Howie and ended the story right there LOL, but that didn't seem like a very satisfying conclusion. Lauren is definitely ballsy for offering to take Howie in. We'll see how that goes. Glad you're still enjoying it! Thanks again, ZDR!
Date: 01/11/16 02:19 pm Title: Chapter 33
I love all of the detail that you add about Howie's condition and his recovery. It makes everything so vivid and believable. Your Google history must be interesting ... unless, of course, you have a wealth of medical knowledge stored in your brain just for fan fiction purposes. :P Anyways, I'm thrilled that you didn't kill Howie ... that would have been too depressing for me! I'm eagerly awaiting the next update to see if Nick will, indeed, come to the hospital. Although, I'm sure that he will and that it will be a heartfelt moment and that I will need to find some tissues. HAHA
Author's Response: LOL! My Google history and Chrome bookmarks are SO interesting. Thank god I live alone and don't let other people on my computer. =P Thanks, though! I try to keep it realistic. I realized as I posted the last few chapters that I could have just killed Howie off and ended the story there, but that definitely would have been way too depressing, even for me. What's the point? It has to have a point, so Howie lives to see another day. We'll see if Nick shows up. Thanks for the review!
Date: 01/11/16 10:03 am Title: Chapter 33
I can imagine what Howie is feeling right now and I think he's got that same thing Nick thinks where everyone will abandon him. The two of them need each other because they're behaving kind of the same. Can't wait to see how their conversation goes. Great update Julie!
Author's Response: I agree; I think Howie and Nick need each other more than they (especially Nick) realize. They're going through the same thing; they could help each other if they could just move past the drama. Thanks for the feedback, Tracy!
Date: 01/10/16 02:38 am Title: Chapter 33
This upcoming conversation between Howie and Nick should be interesting. Loving this story.
Author's Response: Thanks! I'll post the next chapter next weekend.
