Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 02:04 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Route 42
Oh, Dean......*sniffles*... Those boys need each other, and they're both too lost within themselves and too stubborn to see it. The distance has become far too great for them to breach it without a good hard shove. This really brings out Dean's strong sense of family, and his need to have that family wrapped around him like a warm blanket. The pain of everyone he loves being gone is so palpable you can reach out and touch it. If only he'd been able to get a peek inside his brother's mind that day when he'd overheard Sam talk about his thanksgiving plans, he'd have heard a resounding "and I wish my brother was here" that would have made all the difference. Those boys - one second we want to slap them until their heads ring, and the next we want to hug them and never let them go. Great writing on these two chapters - sorry I'm a little late, work was crazy this week. Jules
Author's Response: Hey there, Jules! No worries on being late, I completely understand. I'm so glad you liked this chapter, and that it resonated with you emotionally. Your description of wanting to slap the boys one minute and hug them the next made me laugh. Exactly right! LOL Thanks for taking the time to read and to review each chapter. I love to hear what you think! :)
Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 01:51 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Moore Residence
Poor Sam - he got his perfect life, but he was still just on the outside looking in. This was sadly poignant, with Sam almost drowning in memories of the family he'd left behind while surrounded by the traditional Thanksgiving dinner he'd always dreamed of. And him being a stoic Winchester and trying to suck it up, trying to fill those empty spaces with whatever he could cram in there, and not quite succeeding.....caught between two worlds, and not happy in either one. Can't blame him at all for praying for the phone to ring, and refusing the pie. Jules
Author's Response: Hey there, Jules! I'm really glad you came back to check this chapter out. I'm glad it worked for you, and I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you thought. If you do end up checking out "Just Like My Big Brother" to see the backstory on the paper in Dean's wallet, I hope you like it too. No pressure though. :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 11:16 AM · On: 1996: All Choked Up
nice touch with sam's injury being him getting choked. bc of course that's what always happens to him...and i've heard of that soda stuff. that sounds so nasty. did you ever try any?
Author's Response: LOL Yeah, the soda really could go either way, totally cool or totally gross. Sadly, I never got to try any. Though I probably would've only been interested in the pie-flavored ones, myself. LOL I'm glad you liked Sam getting choked. I just couldn't resist, it's his signature injury. *snort* Thanks for continuing to read and review!
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 11:03 AM · On: 1994: Pastor Jim's
so, i feel like i keep saying, or atleast thinking, 'poor dean.' well, poor dean again. it's always been so hard for him to accept that people care about him too. at least pie makes it better.
Author's Response: Yep, that's the power of pie! LOL I'm really glad you're still reading. Thanks for taking the time to review! It really does mean a lot to me!
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 06:31 AM · On: 1990: Tom the Turkey
aww. sam's real first thanksgiving. i liked this one, it was bittersweet. and again i say, poor dean! - He just wished his dad would take a day off every now and then. Ya know, for Sammy’s sake. Didn’t he know Sammy needed him? - always so oblivious to his own needs.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm really glad you liked this one, it's another favorite of mine. Yeah, poor Dean. He can only ask for what Sammy needs, never for what he needs himself. I hope you'll continue to read! Thanks again for all the lovely reviews. :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 05/03/09 06:13 AM · On: 1983: Mike and Kate's
aww, this one was really sad, but i knew it had to be...poor dean not talking and not eating. and a little baby sammy missing his mommy with absolutely no understanding of the situation...no more happy family:(
Author's Response: Yeah, this one was really sad for me to write too, but I felt like it was important to include. I was worried about how people would receive it, since it was my first attempt at Winchester angst. I really appreciate your review for it!
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 04/03/09 08:46 PM · On: 1982: Sam's First Thanksgiving
omg. toddler dean talk is so cute. “Not bigger ’n me though, Mommy. Cuz I’m da big brover. Wight?” - that first line made me smile...and more happy family! it's gonna be even more sad now to read the ones without them all together:( but thanks for bringing the happy while you can!
Author's Response: Hey there! I gotta tell you, you're seriously making my day here. Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this series and review the chapters separately. It means a lot to me. I'm so glad you liked this one, it's one of my very favorites from the series. I wanted to show that the boys had a bond even before the fire. I fell in love with toddler Dean too, he was so adorable. I did try to make as many of these early ones as I could happy, or partially happy. Being that they're Winchesters, they have plenty of sad times ahead, so I tried to balance it out as best I could with these happy ones. Thanks again for reading and reviewing! :)
Reviewer: Samcentric Chick (Signed) · Date: 04/03/09 08:37 PM · On: 1978: Dean's First Thanksgiving
oh the pie!! lol. when i saw the title of this one i was confused for sec. then i realized mary was preggers...but i thought this was really cute and sweet. i like that it was basically just mary and john bc we never really got to see that and i've not come across any stories with much of that either. it was nice to see a softer side to john, pre-hunter. thanks for telling me about these. i'm a fanfic addict! i am constantly reading something but i usually gravitate towards more angsty things unless they are really short or someone tells me about them. anyway, i'll be reviewing more as i read them.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm really glad you decided to give this series a try. I'm so happy you liked this first one, I LOVED seeing John and Mary interact, when they were just a happy family before the fire. It was a lot of fun to write. There are some angsty chapters along the way (chapter 3 is definitely one), as well as just some nice brotherly moments. Hopefully you'll like both. I look forward to hearing more from you! Thanks for taking the time to read and review! :) It really made my day!
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 01/03/09 11:11 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, Palo Alto
This was a sad one, but certainly well worth the read- Rarely is Sam's perspective after his departure for Stanford presented with such sympathy and introspection -- Well done- :)
Author's Response: Awww, thank you for the lovely review you left, and the wonderful rating. It really means a lot to me that you liked this chapter. Hope you continue to read and enjoy! :)
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 28/02/09 04:54 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The Last, Moore Residence
Awww, sad chapter,i understand why Sam could not eat the pie, it would have been just to painful.
Author's Response: Hey there, I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review this chapter. Hope it didn't leave you too depressed--but if it did, go check out the one-shot I just posted, it's a huge happy brotherly moment. LOL I'm glad you liked that Sam didn't eat the pie. It just would have just been wrong, without Dean there. Thanks again, for the great review!
Reviewer: CatzEye (Signed) · Date: 23/02/09 04:49 PM · On: 2000: Mercer Memorial Hospital
Oh yeah- we all know what that single word was, now, dont we!? -- And, mmm, a pumpkin pie flavored shake actually sounds really good right now -- Another good one!
Author's Response: Yep, it's not hard to guess what word Dean's reply would've been. LOL I'm really glad you came back for another part and liked it. I always love to hear what you think! :)
Reviewer: Primrose (Signed) · Date: 20/02/09 06:22 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
I REALLY want to cook Thanksgiving dinner for these guys, because turkey pot pies for Thanksgiving is SAD. I loved when they were watching the movie, how Dean would smirk. I can picture him playing out the same jokes he and Sam always made whenever they watch the movie. Great detail.
Author's Response: I know, it was kinda a pitiful dinner, wasn't it? :( THANK YOU for picking up that when Dean was watching the movie, he was listening to his internal "Sammy" dialogue. I was afraid I'd gone too subtle on that, since no one on the other site where I posted this caught it. I'm so glad you did! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review. It means a lot to me. The next chapter should go up in a couple of days. Hope to see you back here then! :)
Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 20/02/09 03:04 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
Hmmm, on second thought - this one couldn't possibly be improved. It's perfect.
Author's Response: Awww, what a huge compliment!! Thank you, Jules, it really made my day! *hug*
Reviewer: mizpah (Signed) · Date: 20/02/09 03:03 AM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
Dean sometimes felt like a man haunted, only the person ghosting him wasn’t dead and had chosen to go, leaving nothing behind but some tattered too-small sweatpants, his favorite handgun, and a big brother who suddenly had no one to be a big brother to. That did it - that choked me up. I wasn't doing too badly until I read that. Had a bit of a heart clench over his thoughts about everyone leaving him, or his being the reason that everyone left, but that line shot right through my shaky defences. Oh, my poor Dean - so damaged inside, and always trying to hide it behind his game face. His whole introspection just broke my heart like his own was broken by the absence of his little brother. John's thoughts were a surprise - and I'm so glad that he kicked himself up the arse and paid attention to his oldest son's needs for a change. But I could really feel his confusion and his conflicting thoughts on how he was feeling about Sam's leaving, and how he was supposed to handle it. I shook my head in sorrow, though, when he thought that if he threw them into enough hunts, then Dean would be okay. John, John, John - will you ever open your eyes? It was a bittersweet moment with the thanksgiving dinner and watching the movie, and I know that the internal dialogue would have been Sam's voice in Dean's head. And yep, that phone call brought another tear to this hardened eye. Just the fact that Dean couldn't speak.....oh, man, someone give me a tissue...... Well, I have to go outside now and hug the cat, because I'm a soggy mess. She will think her mother has flipped her lid - nothing new, there. I have to feed the grouchy old bag anyway, so perhaps she'll allow me one teary hug before I open the can of food - LOL. Thanks for this. You have done an awesome job on the angst, despite your earlier misgivings. You carried this perfectly without straying into chick-flick territory, or having either of the boys out of character. What a treat for the soul that this story is. And why do I have a craving for apple pie...... Jules
Author's Response: Awww, I'm so glad you liked this one. Your review absolutely made my day, it's one of the nicest I've ever received. Thank you!! Yeah, Dean was breaking my heart too. I unashamedly cried the whole time I was writing this. LOL In fact, I re-worked it to have it end with him and John together watching the movie because the original ending was just too depressing for me, I just couldn't do it. LOL And yeah--John was totally misguided on the "throwing them into hunts" thing, but it seemed like something he'd come up with--it's how he handled his grief over Mary, after all. Thanks for picking out the line about Dean being haunted, it was one of my favorites. And I'm SOO glad you picked up on the fact that the internal dialogue Dean would've been hearing during the movie was Sam's voice. I was a little worried I'd gone too subtle on that, because no one on the other site where this is up caught it. Thank you, again, for the lovely review. It means so much to me--and the rating, too, since I know you don't often leave them. :)
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:58 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, The Wayfarer Inn
A lovely chapter, it's nice that John was there for Dean. I didn't have to wait long for Dean's pov lol.
Author's Response: Hey there! Yeah, it wasn't a long wait at all was it? LOL When your review for the last chapter came through, I was having a really good day, so I thought I'd go ahead and stick this one up. :) I'm really glad you took the time to read and review it, and that you liked this one. I just couldn't help myself--my original ending for this was too sad, I was depressing myself, so I re-worked it to end with the celebration with John. LOL Thanks for the feedback! The next chapter should go up in a few days. Hope to see you then! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:41 PM · On: 2000: Mercer Memorial Hospital
Pumpkin pie icecream can be awsome! I'm glad that Sam was able to this for Dean. It's nice to see Sam do something for Dean on Thanksgiving when he was laid up!
Author's Response: I'm so glad you liked this one, where it was Sam doing something for Dean. I figured now that he knows why pie is so important to his brother, he would take it upon himself to make sure he had some, and to do for Dean what Dean had done for him when he was choked and couldn't swallow. I'm glad it worked for you. Thanks again for the rating and the review. It means so much to me. I hope you will continue to read and let me know what you think! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:33 PM · On: 1999: Little Sugar Falls Cemetery
I'm getting that feeling that it is Dean that treasures Thanksgiving more than Sam. It was great to see a Thanksgiving with all the Winchester men. I bet that had to be the best Thanksgiving for them.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, I really wanted to have a good one with John in it, where they could enjoy one another's company. I think Thanksgiving is especially important to Dean because he associates it with his mom. But I think it's important to Sam too. Thanks again, so much, for taking the time to read and leave both a rating and a review. It means a lot to me! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:26 PM · On: 1997: The Importance of Pie
Awwwwww...I liked this Thanksgiving because they were remembering their mom and the feelings she avoked. Lovely! I just knew those sodas were awful!
Author's Response: Awww, thanks so much for the great review and rating you left for this installment of my story. I appreciate it! I think this is my very favorite chapter. I loved having the boys talk about their mom, and finally revealing why the pie is so important to Dean. I'm really happy you liked this one!
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:17 PM · On: 1996: All Choked Up
Ha! That was too funny. I'm so glad that Sammy didn't make Dean feel bad about the liquid Thanksgiving (even though I have a suspision he thought it was gross). I wonder if their tummies were able to keep all of that down!
Author's Response: Hey there! Again, thanks for the review and the rating. I was happy to get both. Are you kidding? Soda flavored like all kinds of strange things--it's a teenage boy's dream! LOL Gross or not, it's still really cool! ;) Glad you enjoyed this one!
Reviewer: darkhunter (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:17 PM · On: The Stanford Years: The First, Palo Alto
A very sad chapter, poor Sam all alone,heartbreaking. I'm looking forward to reading Dean's pov.
Author's Response: Hey there! Thanks for coming back to check out this chapter. I really appreciate it, and I'm glad that it hit you emotionally. I went ahead and posted Dean's POV for ya! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:11 PM · On: 1994: Pastor Jim's
The power of pie! Loved it. I had a feeling that would do the trick. Homemade pies, yum! Hopefully, there is enough pie to satisfy Dean!
Author's Response: Hey again! Thanks for the review and the great rating, I really appreciate both. I love hearing what you think of these stories. Yep, I think this is one time there was enough pie even for Dean. LOL
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 03:06 PM · On: 1990: Tom the Turkey
Leave it to Dean to figure out how to give Sammy the best Thanksgiving ever, including the pie (it's not Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie!). I'm glad that Dean didn't steal the pie but actually earned it. I was hoping this wasn't his beginning of getting things they needed by being less than honest.
Author's Response: Hey there! Thanks for coming back to check out another chapter, and for taking the time to review them individually. It's very kind of you! I'm really glad you liked this one, it's one of my faves because of how the boys interact at this age. And I'm with you--I didn't want Dean to get the pie by dishonest means either, especially at this young an age. It would've diminished it somehow. I loved the idea of him having to go to such great lengths to get it, but being willing to do so for his little bro. Glad you enjoyed! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 02:56 PM · On: 1983: Mike and Kate's
How very sad. The first Thanksgiving after the fire. It was very poingnant about the scent of smoke masking everything even the boys scents. That about made me cry. I guess this is the beginning of lousy holidays for the Winchesters.
Author's Response: Hey there again! You're seriously making my day here!! :) Yeah, I don't usually like to do stories with sad endings, but this one felt necessary. I'm really glad it hit an emotional chord with you. And not to fear--there are lots of good holidays and nice brotherly moments ahead for them. This story is done (though not all of it posted yet), and the majority of the chapters have a happy (or happyish--they are Winchesters, after all ;) ) ending. The series as a whole will definitely end on a happy note, even when a few of the individual chapters don't. I'm a sucker for happy endings! LOL Hope you'll continue to read and let me know what you think. I think you'll like the next one, it's definitely a feel-good one, and another fave of mine. :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 02:52 PM · On: 1982: Sam's First Thanksgiving
Oh, how sweet again. Loved that Dean was convinced Sam liked pumpkin pie best (me too!). Very nice!
Author's Response: Hey there, thank you so much for the great review and the rating. Both are very appreciated! I'm so happy you liked this one, it's one of my personal favorites. I really wanted to show that the boys had a bond, even before the fire. Glad you enjoyed! :)
Reviewer: moira4eku (Signed) · Date: 19/02/09 02:49 PM · On: 1978: Dean's First Thanksgiving
Oh, how sweet! So sad to think of Thanksgivings to come with this disfunctional family. Great first Thanksgiving.
Author's Response: Hey there! I'm so happy you decided to check this story out and that you liked the first one. I had a lot of fun writing John and Mary and yet-to-be-born Dean. :) I'm glad you liked it. Hope you'll continue to read and enjoy!
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