Rising, Ch. 2

This is such an interesting study of the flip side of love and relationships. We swim in it's strength and uplifting nature mostly in fic. The ideal. The reality is that it is also crippling. That when you give your heart over to someone else, as something as simple as telling you something you did was stupid can crush your spirit and bring you to tears.

This situation is by every means extreme, but would not surprise me if people were emotionally locked into this type of relationship everywhere. You know you are being emotionally abused and shackled in what you KNOW is an abusive relationship, but as in this case, you are afraid to leave, because you don't want the death of another on your conscious.

Depressingly real.

Company Loves Misery, Ch. 6

Wanting to grant someone forgiveness, and living that forgiveness everyday are two very different creatures. There is a release in forgiving someone. Not only for them, but for you. Living with that action though, is not always so easy. Especially when said person does things to remind you of the pain they inflicted upon you. Sometimes you making an innocent comment can trigger their guilt, and make them think you are merely being malicious, which in turn makes you feel guilty. It is a convoluted clusterfuck.

I am happy for Edward and his accomplishment in obtaining employment. I am thankful that Bella is willing/desperate enough to give him these chances to help her.

Demons are ever present. Some slumbering in the shade, others roaring down their necks.

Devil's Angel, Ch. 16

I think we need one of those industrial fans that they use to cool factories to handle the amount of shit that has hit Edward's proverbial fan. All this stuff with his dad and the mob, turns out dad had a mistress who still works for the company, and now said mistress' ex-husband (or a Volturi stooge) has sent Edward careening into unconsciousness, and hopefully not over a cliff.

His worlds are about to collide despite his efforts to keep them seperate. Either Bella is going to call him when he is MIA this weekend, or Esme/Carlisle is going to call her and let her know about the accident. Either way, I think Bella is about to meet Esme/Carlisle.

Crushed Seraphim, Ch. 10-11

Chapter 10
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GAH! I'm torn. I'm always down for a good lemon, but the moment doesn't seem right for me. He's moving forward out of feelings of love, and she is using him as a tool to dull the pain for a while. So I vote no, because it would be unfair to him. This needs to happen when no cloud is looming over them. I am sure to be out voted.

This Bella is fascinating, because I have never seen one so short tempered. You might even call her Feisty. Oh wait! That's the horse. Fiery? No...that would be in poor taste. Oh well, I just never know how she is going to react, and I love that.

Onward my menstruating leader!

Chapter 11
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Wow! I was so convinced that the cock-blocking would lose the vote. See...this is what I get for doubting. I love that you allowed a little bit of citrusy UST in there, though.

I love that K-Mart was the gates to Hell. So fucking funny. Also, did you mean for the price of the Tic-Tacs to be Pi, because woman, if you did, I will commence humping your leg for eternity.

Devil as a sexy bastard is perfect. I never understood why he was portrayed so often as some ugly beast. That dude is a suave, sexy MoFo who could talk the panties off a nun. Or in this case, an angel. Glad Bella kept her head for the time being, and hopefully she realizes what a bargaining chip she has if she is truly a prize the devil desires.

No James POV necessary for me.

A Rough Start, Ch. 17

Still the mystery of Edward's relationship with his parents lingers. I love that you have left that up in the air still.

Now, the kiss...THE KISS!!! It was the right moment. You seem to know the right moment to dissipate the UST like no other. You take us right to the edge where we can't think we can stand it anymore, and send us tumbling over the edge with a single kiss that many can't do with the hottest of lemons.

Once again, your characters are so rich and real. They feel like someone you know, and I think it lends itself to the reader caring about them.

PSA: SOMETIMES PAPER IS JUST PAPER, PEOPLE. ::wink::

The Cocky and The Cougar, Ch. 15

OK, that sucks. I had a feel that the secret being eluded to was a relationship from the past. Was hoping it was past tense. I don't think Edward was lying when he told Bella that he had never been in love before. I have a feeling, whomever this girl is, that whatever they have had going in the past was more one-sided her way. This is NOT how Bella should have found out about it. She has been completely open and honest about her past w/ Jacob. With Bella's past, it is going to be extremely hard for her to be forgiving or forgetting. Maybe it is too late for Edward. He would have deserved that.

On a lighter note...Happy New Year!

Fault, Ch. 22

My favorite thing about this story continues to be how you allow the characters to be the age they are. Their language. Their awkwardness. Schizophrenic emotions. Makes me want to pull out my old diary and roll my eyes at myself.

Part of me wonders if Carlisle is a bit lenient with the behind closed doors between Edward and Bella, because her rediscovering and being comfortable with sexuality is part of her healing. Alas, he is still a father, and so there isn't a complete blind eye.

I just hope that Edward's youth allows him some not so common patience with Bella as she finds her way.