Arrgh, Kim – you and your bloody cliffhangers!

Luckily I’m in a good mood now, having just enjoyed a very pleasant 40 minutes with a cup of coffee, a couple of jaffa cakes and indulging in another great chapter, so I’ll forgive you. As usual, it was Ben I liked most. He’s a spunky little kid, isn’t he? Must be in the genes. Of course you have ruined most other fanfic for me as I’m not sure I’ll ever really enjoy just a Dean & Sam story anymore, it would feel like someone was missing!

My 2 favourite quotes:

"Yeah, cause you guys are just that lucky on camping trips." Ben observed.

Ain’t that the truth! And:

"Don’t worry about it, kiddo." Sam replied. "You’ll probably be taller than your dad; he’s destined to be the shortest in the family."

Just cos it’s so reminiscent of conversations with my kids. They are all determined to tower over me! And only in the Winchester clan would being over 6 ft count as short.

Really, really looking forward to chapter 3 and seeing how much you bash poor Dean in this time. He should get a restraining order slapped on you!

Kirsty x

Author's Response:

Kirsty,

So very sorry.  I don't mean to, really, I don't.  They have to stop somewhere.  

The conversations between Ben, Dean and Sam remind me a lot of my own family.  My daughter was depressed when she discovered that she was done growing at an inch shy of my height and then her sister went and put 4 inches on me.  It's going to be terrible when the boy finally hits his growth spurt.  At least I won't be the shortest - my poor baby. 

Sadly for me whenever I contemplate a story it seems as if something is missing if Ben isn't there.  I didn't intend for this to happen but here it is.  Gotta love the kid, just like we have to love our own kids.

Thanks, I really appreciate the support and kind words.  You make me smile at all the right times.

Kim

Oh boy! Poor Dean! Can't wait to read how you get Sam and Ben to rescue him. Or maybe he rescues himself ...

I loved this passage: 

Ben had discovered the last time he went camping with his father and his uncle that he truly loved being outdoors. ... Dean and Sam could do the campground thing, but once they got on the trails, they moved. They moved far and they moved fast. ... Like with all things the older two did, Ben liked the challenge of keeping up with them.

It's the little touches like this and the conversation about how tall Ben was going to get that gives such great insights about Ben and his relation with his dad and uncle.

I'm really enjoying this story, even if you did leave me hanging off a cliff! :) 

-- cricket 

 

Author's Response:

Sorry about the cliff but I keep saying, the chapters have to end somewhere.  I wish I could write it all in one massive go and not have to take breaks.  I get little enough sleep as it is, writing 24 hours a day just might do me in.

I like the little things between the three of them.  They seem important to me.

Thanks for reading and for the reviews.  I really appreciate it.

Great chapter... Love the moments of father-son-bonding. Love how youre are completely in tuned to how an eleven year old boy should think and act.

It's amazing to actually see the developement of the characters in the story. How they evolve by themselves and with each other.

Great job... Keep it up.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much.  It's not hard to be in tuned with an eleven year old, I deal with a twelve year old daily.  They can be a challenge as they try to discover the adult inside them and then the next minute they're curled up next to you with a blanket in their hand that they've owned since infancy.  I find myself completely exhausted on occassions just trying to fiugre out which mood he's in at a particular moment.  It's fun and I love it.  I think Dean loves it too.  I kind of see it like Dean almost has a grandparent's view because he's been there done that.  He gets to step back a bit and not let the little moments get to him.  He sees that the war is much more important than the skirmishes.

Anyway, more informtion than you asked for.  Thanks for the great comments and for reading.  I really appreciate it.

Y'know, I got back from a week away to find another Ben story and was quite literally clapping my hands. I love this AU you've created, and this first chapter just has me enthralled as usual. Your writing never lets me down, and there are times when I feel I'm just wallowing in the picture your creating...awesome!

More please...lotes lots more...!!! XX Louy

Author's Response:

Wallowing.....LOL.  I love it.  And clapping your hands.  You've made me feel great.  Thank you. 

A good portion of this has already been wirtten just got get it pieced together and worked out. So, there is plenty more.

Thanks for the review!

Kim

What a wonderful start to what I know will be a fantastic story. Your description at the beginning had me sighing in pleasure. I've never been to Montana, nor seen the Rockies, but the whole intro painted a vivid picture in my mind.

Loved this: It was that wall, there in the distance, that rose from nothing and reached for the heavens.

The sheer glee of the boys playing around in the pool came through loud and clear in your writing. I could just picture them clowning around. 

This one had me laughing out loud: “Aren’t you worried he’ll drown?” The blond said while watching Dean hold Ben under water. “He can hold his breath for a long time.”

And you capped it off with a beautiful conversation between Ben and Dean. I love how you show the difficulties Dean has answering Ben's questions and how he's handling fatherhood with such grace.

Looking forward to the rest of your story.

--cricket

Author's Response:

cricket,

I've driven that stretch of road once.  Having grown up at the foot of the Cascades I was shocked at the difference in the Rockies. The Cascades have endless foothills that slowly build until you have a mountain.  The Rockies have foothills but they aren't as numerous as the Cascades and it literally looks like a wall.  And the sky there....wow, they call it big sky country for a reason.

I'm glad that the bit in the pool worked. Wasn't sure about it but I liked it. 

Thank you so much for your comments.  I really apprecaite it.

Kim 

Fabulous intro to your next sequel. Your description of the countryside, especially the wountains was awesome, your use of color analogy just magic.

Ben's whole reaction to the adults in the pool had me smiling, never having had to share his father or his uncle, let alone the flirting! Your conversation between father and son was awesome, you allowed Dean to handle these tricky questions with honesty and sensitivity.

And Sammy's shyness (especially in front of Dean) was as cute as Dean's confidence with the women. Love both these aspect of each man. Oh...and both of them getting lucky in the same night? Woohoo!! Not to mention that two Winchesters in a hottub is quite the treat!!

And your setting us up for quite a hunt, I can feel it!

Great start.

Author's Response:

It isn't very often that I write something gratuitously but I had to go there.  I've actually stayed in those cabins and the hot tubs are really there....that is as far as that confession goes.  I also liked the idea of both of them getting lucky with Ben in a perfectly safe environment.  Not something that would happen very often.

Thank you so much for your kind words.  I was worried that this chapter would be too sweet with none of the actual hunt in it.  I wrote the beginning of the hunt (the next chpater) first and it was supposed to be the beginning.  I suddenly realized that I hadn't introduced the bad guy yet and it would be too pat for them to just figure out who it was without the reader meeting the bigbad first.

Thanks again.

Hi Kim,

I’m so glad you’re doing another Ben story and this was a great first chapter. I love your attention to detail, and your description of the mountains was lovely. But mostly, I love what you do with the characters. You have made Ben so much a part of the Winchester life and written him so convincingly that all of his interactions with the boys and the people that they meet feel natural. It’s never like he has just been foisted into a scene but you feel he really belongs there. And the mix of the fun stuff of parenting (the teasing and messing about in the pool) is balanced just right with the heavier toll of guilt over every little thing. Ben’s reactions to his dad and uncle being hit on were great; not wanting to seem like a needy child, trying to be cool and allow Dean and Sam some ‘adult’ time. But, ultimately, he is still a child and unable to stop the displeasure at feeling rejected from escaping. Add to that the obvious loyalty to his mum ... well, there are going to be plenty more carefully worded conversations at inopportune times in the Winchester future!

Oh, and Sammy and Dean both getting laid in the first chapter – Wahey!

Looking forward to number 2!

Kirsty x

Author's Response:

Kirsty,

Thank you so much!  I'm known for pulling my punches and my sublty....yeah, right.  So, everyone (except Ben) gets laid and Sam's girl didn't die, yet.  I think any kid would have a difficult time watching women react to Dean and Sam and understanding what it all means.  Plus pretending that Dean never does 'it' again is rediculous.

Next chapter moves with a bang.  Angst, pain, and anger.  What more could a person ask for?

Thanks for reading and the review. 

Kim