Reviewer: calUK (Signed) · Date: 22/04/09 12:12 PM · On: 1983: Mike and Kate's
Oh wow. Two nice, sweetly fluffy chapters - then you go and toss this at us. *sniffles* This chapter is sensory overload - from the visuals of John holding Sammy close and Dean pressing into his side in the middle of all the festive decorations, to the constant scent of smoke and taste of ash and the quiet - beautiful description: "They didn't even seem to talk anymore, not any of them, the silence brittle and crackling with all the things they weren't saying..." Gorgeous.
Author's Response: Aww, thank you for the wonderful review you left for this chapter. I was really nervous about this one when I posted it, because it was so sad, but it felt like an important one to include, since it was such a pivotal time in their lives. I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you thought. Hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Reviewer: calUK (Signed) · Date: 22/04/09 12:09 PM · On: 1982: Sam's First Thanksgiving
Heehee - Dean at four is just as much a con artist as he is at 30!
Author's Response: Hey there! Thanks for continuing to read and review, it's always appreciated! I'm so happy you liked this chapter, it's one of my personal favorites. I just completely fell in love with Dean at this age, and hope to re-visit him soon. I also really wanted to show that the boys had a special bond, even before the fire, before Sammy was even born. I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks again!
Reviewer: calUK (Signed) · Date: 22/04/09 12:07 PM · On: 1978: Dean's First Thanksgiving
Ah, and now we see where Dean gets his love of pie from! Lovely first chapter - reading on...
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm so glad you decided to check out this story, it always makes my day when someone new starts reading! Thanks for taking the time to leave reviews too, they are much appreciated. Yep, Dean started early with his love for pie. LOL I'm so happy you liked this chapter. Hope you continue to read and enjoy!
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 21/04/09 08:48 AM · On: 2005: Sleep EZ Motel
What a lovely chapter - Dean's just about the most awesome big brother a guy could have - and this Thanksgiving, when the pain from the loss of Jessica's so fresh in Sam's heart -- Very, very good!
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm glad you came back for another chapter! Thanks so much for the great rating and review. I really appreciate both. I think most, if not all, of my chapter ratings come from you, so thanks for that! *g* I agree--Dean's the world's best big brother, if you ask me. Hope you continue to read and enjoy! :)
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 17/04/09 03:34 PM · On: 2007: Days Inn
Another beautiful chapter,looking forward to the next part and to your new story.
Author's Response: Awww, thanks for the great review. I hope you'll like both the next chapter and the new story. I hope to have both up in the next couple of weeks. I'm so glad you liked this one! Thanks for taking the time to read and review. :)
Reviewer: Primrose (Signed) · Date: 17/04/09 01:14 PM · On: 2007: Days Inn
I'm wondering if you're going to add on to this when we find out what Thanksgiving will be like in season 5! So, let's see. We've had pumpkin pie soda, and now pumpkin pie CANDY. How many more ways can you do pumpkin pie? oo! Gum. I'll be somewhere there's pumpkin pie gum. And chapstick. We know what Dean's last Christmas was like. I was glad to see Thanksgiving too. Glad that Sam woke up and still had time to fix things. I will be sad to see these stories come to an end.
Author's Response: Don't forget about the pumpkin pie milkshake! LOL Oh, yes...I have a master list of pumpkin pie substitutes. ;) I'm so glad that you liked this chapter, and it's really sweet of you to say you'll be sad to see these stories come to an end. I will too. Although, you're absolutely right--I do plan to see where Season 5 takes us. It's been my plan all along to do as complete a job as I can with these, so depending on how things are going in S5, I definitely plan to come back and do another one (but only if there's a way to give it a happy/hopeful ending). I also plan to possibly do one that occurs right after the series finale, depending on how things end. Again, only if it will end things on an uplifting note with the boys together and happy. I insist on a happy ending. Darn it. ;) But I may also at some point come back and do a "missing scene" where I fill in one or two of the years I've skipped--cuz I keep getting ideas...apparently, I'm dangerous when given a theme. LOL And I have a really (I think) funny one I'd love to do...so we'll see. ;) Anyway, hope that answers your question. I hope to get the next chapter up in the next week or two. The new fic should go up around then too, hope you'll check it out. :)
Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 04/04/09 06:02 AM · On: 2006: Baudelaire Inn
Interesting that all Dean could smell was smoke - just like John after Mary died, and just like Sam after Jess. Smoke, fire and sulphur. He was so weighed down by that damned promise John made him make - damn John for what he did to his sons! But at least he still has Sam to hold onto, even if he is reluctant to let his brother help. And Sam - wanting so desperately to make things right for his brother and not knowing how. But he spoke from the heart when he said that he couldn't have borne losing Dean. Love the ending, and the little salute to their father - still painful, but getting a little better each day. Sorry I'm late - real life has practically drowned me this week. Still trying to swim against the current and my arms are getting tired, but it's nice to know that I can cling onto rocks like this one to rest for a moment. Jules
Author's Response: Hey, Jules! Sorry I'm late in responding to this, but I really appreciate the great review you left for this chapter. It means a lot to me. THANK YOU for picking up on the fact that Dean could only smell smoke after his dad's death, and the tie-in to both John and Sam when they experienced big losses. You are the only one who caught that, and it completely made my day. *hug* I'm really glad you liked the ending, too. Thanks again for taking the time to read and review. The next chapter is up now--hope you'll enjoy it! :)
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 02/04/09 05:42 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Route 42
Wow- what a sad and very beautiful piece this was! - Dean's pain and longing here were palpable - and the stargazing was poetic -- Lovely- Just Lovely!
Author's Response: Awwww, thank you so much, that means a lot to me. I'm so glad you liked this and that it struck an emotional chord for you. Thank you for the wonderful review and rating! The boys are back together in the next one. Hope you enjoy it!
Reviewer: Swellison (Signed) · Date: 29/03/09 01:23 AM · On: 1978: Dean's First Thanksgiving
Hi Beth, This is an amazing story. I know I've started to leave a review or two before, but I got bogged down in what to say and timed out with no review to show for it. I love this story. Your slice of life style works perfectly with the subject matter, and I really like that it's not just Dean, but the whole Winchester clan who come to realize the importance of pie. One thing that this story has an extra helping of is feelings-- the '70's word for relationship-- which is the heart of the show, and I think is part of the good fanfic, too. Hope that there's LOTS more chapters of this! Sue
Author's Response: Hey there, Sue! Thanks so much for the absolutely lovely review you left for my story, it means so much to me! I was especially happy that you said you felt like the story had lots of relationship in it, because that's exactly what I was going for--a portrayal of the boys' bond through the years. I don't know if you're at all interested, but if you're enjoying this story, you might like the two one-shots I have up, "Parenting Your Gifted Child" and "Just Like My Big Brother". They really have a focus on the boys' relationship and (I think) contain nice brotherly moments. If you end up checking them out, I'd love to hear what you think! Thanks again for taking the time to read and review, I really appreciate it! I hope to get another chapter of this up next week. Hope to see you back here then! :)
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 28/03/09 05:34 PM · On: 2006: Baudelaire Inn
Beautiful, you never cease to amaze me with this wonderful story.
Author's Response: Aww, thank you for the lovely review. It means a lot to me. I'm so glad you liked this chapter, it was a difficult one to write. I hope to get the next chapter up sometime next week. Hope to see you back here then! :)
Reviewer: Primrose (Signed) · Date: 28/03/09 01:34 PM · On: 2006: Baudelaire Inn
Oh, I'm glad you added the little epilogue! How awful that they didn't end up doing Thanksgiving at ALL! You always do so well tapping into the emotion and mood of whatever year they're celebrating. I've enjoyed that.
Author's Response: Hey there! Thank you for the wonderful review you left for this chapter, I really appreciate it. I'm glad you liked the little epilogue, I just couldn't stand to leave it with the original ending, it was too sad. I really appreciate you saying that I do a good job tapping into the emotion/mood of the year they're celebrating--I spend a tremendous amount of time working on that, so I'm really pleased that you find it's been ringing true. I don't know if you're at all interested, but I have two other one-shots posted here on the site--one that takes place partly during their childhood, partly in Season 3 called "Just Like My Big Brother". The other is set early in Season 3 and is called "Parenting Your Gifted Child". If you take a look, I'd love to hear what you think of them. No pressure though. :) Thanks again for taking the time to read and review! I hope to get the next chapter up sometime next week.
Reviewer: mousharilla (Signed) · Date: 18/03/09 06:26 AM · On: 2005: Sleep EZ Motel
Oh.. Oh.. This was so beautiful, so full of ouch and yay and awes. *flails* Not exactly the most coherent review I've ever given.. But yeah, I loved this. I had to pause somewhere in the middle because I was all choked up.. Reading the whole thing in one go (pause included) was one hell of a roller coaster ride. *loves*
Author's Response: Hey there! Thank you, SO much, for taking the time to read through this whole thing and let me know what you thought. It means a lot to me, and I'm so happy you liked it. Your review completely made my day!! Another chapter should go up next week for this. Hope you'll be back to check it out. Until then, I have a couple of one-shots up that you might enjoy, if you liked this one. If you check them out, I hope you'll let me know what you think. :) Thanks again for taking the time to read and review!!
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 17/03/09 08:29 AM · On: 2005: Sleep EZ Motel
Awww, what a beautiful chapter, it's lovely to heve them back together again and eating pie.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm so glad you liked this chapter with the boys back together. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. The next chapter should go up this weekend. Hope to see you back here then! :)
Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 17/03/09 01:52 AM · On: 2005: Sleep EZ Motel
So Sam was listening to the song after all. That's good - Dean's mesage got through on all levels. The introspection from both boys was poignant and very spot on. Dean hovering - in a very Dean-like manner - not wanting to be too far away because he could see the grief and the memories were overwhelming Sam. And Sam sifting through the burned out remains of his normal life, trying to find an anchor in a world of roaring flames, darkness and blood. My heart ached for Sam, for his loss, and his struggle to reorient himself. And it soared at his realisation that he had perhaps come home, in finding his connection to his big brother again. The little moment when he coaxed Dean into admitting that he, like Sam, hadn't wanted pie while they'd been estranged was wonderfully touching, in a let's-not-talk-about-it Winchester way. And I can clearly see that tee shirt - Sam's security blanket against the loss, pain and nightmares. And Dean's bewilderment when he tried to wash it and got chewed out for it - lol. Sam's thoughts about being adrift and alone despite having Jessica were so sad, but so true. There was a huge chunk of him missing. But it's not missing any more. Wonderful perspective on both boys. Left me a little choked up, actually. But hopeful for their future. They're back together. Nothing else matters. Jules
Author's Response: Hey, Jules! Thanks for coming back to check out the reunion chapter and for taking the time to leave such a lovely, detailed review. I'm so pleased that you liked this one. I'm especially glad that you felt I captured both boys and where they would've been emotionally at this point. And I was especially glad that you liked the bit with Dean's shirt, and Sam getting Dean to admit he hadn't had pie while they were apart, those were two of my favorite parts. I'm really pleased to hear that they worked for you and that this chapter touched you emotionally and left you feeling hopeful. I can't ask for more than that! :) Thanks again for taking the time to read and review. The next chapter should go up in the next couple of days. Hope you'll come back then to check it out! :)
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 16/03/09 06:58 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Moore Residence
You write simply, and the emotional impact of your words just blows me away -- I absolutely love this chapter, all the longing in Sam is so palpable -- Again I say: Excellently done!!
Author's Response: Awww, thanks for the awesome review and the rating. I really appreciate both more than I can say. I'm really glad you liked this one with Jess. I tried really hard to keep a balance here, to show his love for her, but also that she can't replace his brother. I'm so glad it resonated for you emotionally. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. I really hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Reviewer: Primrose (Signed) · Date: 16/03/09 02:23 PM · On: 1978: Dean's First Thanksgiving
This was the Thanksgiving I was most anxious to read about. It didn't disappoint! Poor Sam, grieving, and Dean trying hard to make things right. How fitting that they had to share a piece of pie.
Author's Response: Hey there! Thanks so much for coming back to read this chapter, I appreciate it! I'm so happy you liked this one, them together for the first time after Stanford. I worked really hard to show Sam's grieving in a realistic way, but also to show the flip side of that--that Dean brought comfort, and hope. I'm so glad you liked it! The next chapter should go up sometime next week. Hope to see you back here then! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 07/03/09 11:52 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Route 42
ok, so i'm finished. are there going to be more?...i liked how they both thought about each other while looking at the stars and having the same memory. but i hate how stubborn they are in not reaching out to the other. however, that's not your fault. lol...good job
Author's Response: Hey there! I still owe you some replies, but wanted to let you know that there are going to be more chapters. I'll be posting the next one shortly. I'm so glad you liked the similarities I tried to weave in, them both looking at the stars and thinking of the same memories. I know--I wanted them to talk on the phone too. Stinkin' canon. LOL Hope you read and enjoy the next chapter. It'll go up soon!
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 06/03/09 07:21 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Moore Residence
aww, this was sad. why do winchesters have to be so stubborn!?! why couldn't he just call dean and be happy dang it!...just like all the others - good job.
Author's Response: I know! I really wanted them to talk on the phone too. Stinkin' canon! ;) I really appreciate that you took the time to review each of these individually. It's greatly appreciated!
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 07:34 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
ok, so on the last one, i forgot to tell you that i almost cried while reading it...now on to this one. i almost cried again reading the dean pov. you did a really great job at showing the bond and need between the two of them...and it was sad to see that john didn't understand dean's reasons for hunting the way he did - not wanting john to leave him...i'm not sure what's more sad - dean thinking sam is having a wonderful thanksgiving without him while he's with all his new friends or the fact that sam wasn't having a good time and was all alone thinking about dean. *ponders* idk!
Author's Response: Aww, thanks for letting me know that these two chapters really impacted you emotionally, that's a huge compliment to me! I'm so glad that the bond between the boys and their need for each other really came through in this one. And yeah--it was really sad, Dean thinking Sam was doing fine without him and Sam really missing him. And John did get a lot of it wrong, but I think it meant a lot that he at least tried to ease this Thanksgiving some for Dean. Again, thanks for taking the time to read and review, it means a lot to me! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 07:08 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, Palo Alto
wow - just wow! i love this one. it didn't have any dialogue which contradicts one of my earlier reviews, however, this was really great. i've not found many sam pov stories, so i cherish them! lol...off to read the rest...
Author's Response: Awww, thanks. I am really tickled that you liked this one so much, that means a lot to me. A couple of the upcoming chapters are also Sam POV, hope you like those just as well. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 06:49 PM · On: 2000: Mercer Memorial Hospital
aww, this one was sweet...i'm totally hooked on these, they can never stop!...i like when sam is able to do little things for dean, bc he obviously does so much for sam.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm so happy you liked this one, and Sam doing something for Dean when he's in the hospital on the holiday, to make it special. If you like stories that showcase how much Dean does for Sam and have Sam appreciating it and trying to give something back, you should read my other one-shot, "Parenting Your Gifted Child". I think you'd like it. Again, thank you for the awesome review. It means so much to me! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 06:36 PM · On: 1999: Little Sugar Falls Cemetery
yay! a semi-happy, post-mary thanksgiving with john. i liked that it had a little john pov in it too. with having sam's you could think that john was 'just being john' and pushing his boys, but with his pov you really get to see his reasons for acting that way. and dean was really happy in the end. sam's always the obvious brooder, but dean is always angsting over stuff in his own head.
Author's Response: Hey there! Thanks for coming back to check this one out, I'm glad you liked it. I really wanted to do a happy Thanksgiving that included John before Sam went away to school. I'm glad you liked seeing John's POV too. I wanted to show that the reasons the boys (and we) assume John's doing things aren't necessarily always the whole story. I think he messed up, a lot, with the boys, but overall I think his intentions were good and he loved them. And I agree with you--Dean does a lot of angsting in his own way. Thanks for the thoughtful review. Hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 06:15 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
What a very eloquently sad chapter-- You've written the loneliness and abandonment Dean must have felt at this time in his life very well -- an it was touching how John tried, in his own way, to ease some of that for his son -- Very nicely done;)
Author's Response: Aww, thanks for the great review and the rating. I really appreciate it! I'm so glad you liked John trying to help out. I had this all written, but it was just too depressing for me, so I spent a bunch of time re-working it to end with John and Dean together. Made me feel a little better at least. LOL And I do think he would've known how hard Sam's leaving was on Dean. I'm glad this chapter resonated with you emotionally. I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 05:54 PM · On: 1997: The Importance of Pie
ok, so i enjoyed this one, but at the beginning i was dying waiting for the dialogue. there was nothing wrong with the story, in fact it was good, i'm just a big fan of the dialogue in stories. with that said, i loved the convo the guys had about mary and...well, just the whole convo really. but thinking about how horrible it is for dean to have known and lost mary and then for sam to never have been able to know her - it's just heart breaking...anyway, good job again.
Author's Response: Hey there! Glad you're still reading! Thanks so much for the feedback, and I'm really glad you enjoyed the conversation about Mary. It is really sad that the boys didn't have more time with her. Glad you liked this one!
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 04:34 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Route 42
Another beautifuly written chapter, but so sad and painful.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm really glad you came back to read more. Thanks so much for the kind words and for taking the time to read! I appreciate it!
|
