Julie, I have finally caught up on this via putting it on my Kindle and reading it in the bath, lol. So, my apologies for falling so very behind and putting all my thoughts into one review at the end rather than throughout.

However I have to say that I have LOVED every bit of this so far! (I think I saw on Twitter that you were close to finishing it?) I love the slow burn of Nick and Howie's relationship. The drama at the very beginning was well written and not too over the top. Nick wigging out and eventually coming to terms with having HIV and Howie was really well paced. I liked that you had Lauren be supportive of Nick from the get-go. That was an interesting angle to take given that they were not (I assume?) going to end up together in the end, or at least for the bulk of the story. But I liked where you went with Nick ending things with her because he wanted to keep her free from his drama-filled life and give her the opportunity to be with someone else who didn't have the disease. I thought that was a very Nick-ish thing to do.

Howie. Oh, Howie. He is just hard to hate in this story, despite having done so many awful things. I really felt for him when he tried to kill himself, and the part where Nick listens to his message and goes to find him is just heart-wrenching. Despite all of that at the beginning, as the story goes on he really is the more stable one it seems like and he's good for Nick in that sense.

Oh yeah, and their relationship. It developed so naturally. I loved how you had things between the two of them progress through them living in the house and watching the rocket launch together. It was so sweet and came off as very real. I also like have you've added in Nick's struggles over being with another guy. I think that he'd definitely have reservations, especially after having been with women (and with Lauren) for so long, that everything he knows is now flipped upside down. I also loved the scene where the other guys find out, and Nick's conversation with Brian was spot-on. I loved that you brought it back to Frick and Frack. I think it was good Nick was able to talk to him candidly like that. Also LMAO at Leighanne walking in on them smoking and Nick's comment about banging Howie. Hilarious.

All in all I just wanted to say that I love this and I'll definitely try my best to keep up (though I am admittedly bad at that) as the story comes to a close. This was so much fun to read! Truly I loved every word. Will probably update it on my kindle once it's complete and read it again.

Author's Response: Wow, thanks so much, Steph!! It's awesome to hear your thoughts on the overall story so far. I'm glad that things have seemed believable and not too over-the-top, and I especially appreciate your comments on the slash relationship, since that has been the most challenging aspect of the story for me to write. Thanks for taking the time to catch up and review!

Is it bad I sort of want Howie to die in this story? LOL. It sort of seems to me now that's where things are headed. Or maybe he'll be on the brink of death and then Nick will realise that he loves Howie and only Howie! Sorry, just spouting off theories in the review box haha. I did feel bad for Howie though, when he was arguing with Nick and how he realised Nick was still in love with Lauren. Well of course he is, Howie! Jeez. Like what did you think? I can understand Nick's rationale in just wanting to be normal and have a few beers with the guys. Even though he's coping better with all this stuff, he still seems to have bits that underlying "If I ignore everything, maybe it'll go away" attitude lingering. He's such a complex character in this story. I'm really enjoying it.

Author's Response: I love reading your theories! Thanks for the compliment on Nick's character being complex. I'm glad you could feel for both of them. Thanks, Steph!

"Needless to say nobody slept that night." Well I should hope not!!

Anyway. This was super sweet. I liked how you showed all of his DWTS friends in it as well, because it makes senses that Nick would've grown close with them over the course of the show. And Brian's surprise for him was too sweet. Gah. And I Will Wait was such a perfect choice, obvs. Now you've got me wishing for a Brian cover of that song! Great work as always, Tracy. Man you are rocking the slash. x

Author's Response: I think that he would have grown close with the cast as well for the reasons you stated which is why I included them in the story. It was fun writing them. I'm glad that you enjoyed this one as well. I haven't written slash in a minute so I need to get on that lol

Aww Tracy this was cute! I liked the AU route you took with it. I also liked how nervous Nick was and even his comment "Sorry I'm such a spaz" LMAO. Adorable.

Author's Response: I thought I responded to this review. I like AU because it gives me so much to play with while kind of keeping their personalities the same. Glad you liked it!!

Nick just keeps getting worse and worse. Interesting comment about how he often wants to apologize for the things he's done when he's drinking. Nick - maybe if you had any sort of concience and apologized when you were sober (or god forbid didn't do those things in the first place!) you wouldn't find yourself in the mess that you inevitably will due to Russel, lol. Also LOL at this "After sobering up AJ by running his head under the water, paying damages to the hotel, keeping Kevin from committing murder and being banned....the boys were back on the bus again." Love it. The comedy you intersperse with the drama in your writing is so great, Tracy.

Author's Response: I feel like a lot of people who drink on the regular do this, because I had a neighbor who passed away a year or two ago and he told me drinking made him sad. He was an alcoholic. I love breaking up tension with a little comedy now and then. I feel like Kevin would have murdered them if he was allowed. Thanks for the review!

Hmmm interesting start with it being with Russel rather than with the boys. And of course it's Nick who's caused trouble lol. I liked how it transitioned to Nick hearing the news report. Reading on!

Author's Response: The original story started with Russell,and I kept that to kind of give a back story on his character, which you will see more of. I'm happy you're reading. Thanks for the review!

Tracy! This was so sad! I liked the bit at the beginning where Aaron had to be the one to tell Nick. Also this " Aaron was not as good at hiding his emotions as I was." understatement of the year, lol. His conversation with Kevin was so sweet, I could see something like that really happening. Great work :)

Author's Response: Yeah I can tell Aaron doesn't know how to hide his emotions like Nick does. I feel that's the same in real life. I loved the conversation as well. I think it's something Kevin definitely would say. Thanks!