It's nice to see a more human side to Bill. This chapter certainly answered a lot of questions. However, those questions being answered only seemed to cause new questions to form. Sigh.

I love this chapter and I can't wait for the next one! What shall be revealed next? I wonder...

This chapter just helped me to remember why I hate Alana so much. Although, Bill seemed to be able to handle himself pretty well against her.

As to your question about what we as readers would like to see happen in this fic... perhaps I'm just a sucker for a tormented Bill, but I would really like to see Drew come back soon. I can only imagine how much drama that would bring, especially if he were to see Bill and Tom together. I'll just go with the excuse of I want to see Tom wind up the hero and save Bill from his abusive boyfriend, dump Alana on her ass (preferably in the middle of nowhere all alone and helpless), and become the father (along with Bill, of course) that Teddy needs.

Now... I feel I need to comment on your rant about Bill's new septum. I agree whole-heatedly with you. I hate how fans seem to have the impression that they have any say over what Tom or Bill decides to do about their looks. So what if they like to change their appearances from time to time, they're grown men who can do whatever the hell they want, and we (meaning fans) just have to look from afar. That doesn't mean that we have to like everything they do, but we don't have to be so hateful about it. Personally, I LIKE Bill's septum. It took some getting used to, mainly because I have personal reasons why I'm weary of septum piercings, but it somehow suites Bill. Frankly, I think he could pull anything off.

Haha. I'm done now, I promise. I loved this chapter, and I humbly await the next installment! (Also, I hope you're having fun in Germany. You're so lucky!)

Author's Response: I\'m glad you feel the same way about the piercings, because it really pisses me off when people talk shit about Tom and Bill because they aren\'t dressing or appearing like how they want them to be. I\'ve heard people bitch about Tom\'s gages. God, I just want to tell them to chill the fuck out. On a further note-- yeah, I\'m a sucker for drama also x) But there are SOOOO many people in this world that wants a happy ending that I, for one, have to give them after the sad ending for 7D&N. So I shall write more soon, and hopefully get a German keyboard because I REALLY need one here xD

Whoa... Intense chapter. Sigh. And now even more questions have sprung up! Where did Bill get the money? How did Bill know about Tom's sister? (Cos I'm not convinced he was just guessing.) Why the hell does Bill shower only in the rain or the lake? And so many more questions. Haha. You do a fantastic job of confusing me and making me so irritated, because I don't understand, that I just want to read more, more, more!

I loved the chapter. I kinda wish Tom would have excepted the jacket, but I understand why he didn't. And is it strange that I find Bill reading the dictionary adorable? (There's another question: WHY does he read the dictionary?) Hmm... and I wonder about what Georg said. Is it possible Tom has a crush on Bill? Humdihumdy, humdidumdy. I guess I'll have to wait for the next chapter, ne? I can't wait to see what happens next! (How shall Bill apologize? Hmm...) I shall be patiently awaiting the next chapter. :)

Author's Response: Those questions will be answered soon! : D He did expect the jacket, he just didn\'t except something that expensive ^^ Thank you! I\'m glad you like it :D

Why do I get a funny feeling Luka isn't a person, but the horse that seems to be plaguing Tom? But that wouldn't make sense... would it? I'm so confused!

Aww... the end of this chapter was kind of adorable. Bill is almost too cute for words. I just knew he was going to kiss Tom.

Author's Response: ^________^ Thank you! :\'D

Ah, who knew silly, gangsta Tom had it in him to be so overwhelmingly sweet? I think I got a cavity reading this... or perhaps it was all the candy canes? I'm going to be sad to see this series end.

Author's Response: I\'m totes up for blaming the candy canes ;)

How heartwarming. I can imagine this happening... haha, well... maybe not the ending. That's just my crazy fangirl side kicking in. I can see the beginning though. It's sad, so very very sad. Sigh. The ending was nice though. :) I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Haha. I adored this chapter. I can just imagine how amusing a race with so many Bills would be. I loved the interactions in this chapter. Tom's Bill is so... haha. The only word I can think of is motherly. I almost died laughing when he asked his younger self if he was calling him old. Huh... that last sentence is really confusing. Though I guess it would be since there are so many Bills.

It's good to know Tom still has racing. :)

Author's Response: I love writing the banter between the Bills so I\'m really glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!

It just keeps getting worse and worse, although that's to be expected. Still... I can't imagine Tom confined to a bed, unable to walk or talk ever again. Or I guess I don't want to imagine it. At least he has Bill to bring him comfort. I can only imagine the disaster this situation would be if Bill weren't by Tom's side. As much as I'm glad Bill is staying with Tom, I almost wish he wouldn't. I can only imagine how this is affecting Bill. I hope things don't get much worse than they already are. I don't think either one of them could handle it well if things got worse; I know I wouldn't be able to.

Brilliant chapter, as always.

Author's Response: We\'re near the end now, and I sympathise with not wanting to imagine it. This is the very last thing I would ever want them to go through, but I\'m endlessly grateful to them because they gave me a way to address my own demons.

Haha. Poor "baby" Bill. He just wants some love too.

I admit that I can't really imagine the twins as being that different at age forty... maybe a few more laugh lines, but I think some laugh lines would just make them look softer and more adorable!
I'm slightly creeped out by my comment. Haha.

Author's Response: He does just want some love, lol. ♥ I think the twins will be eternal ^_~

I somehow knew it was going to be Alzheimer's disease. I couldn't quite think of anything else that would fit.

I have to admit, this chapter was so painful to read. It sucks... because you're such a good writer, everything in this chapter was just so real. Too real in fact. The beginning of the chapter was hard enough to read, but then there was the shift with the younger Bill. There aren't hardly any stories I've read on this site that have made me cry, but this chapter did. About the time Tom told the younger Bill that they had received some bad news I started crying. And jeez... the last sentence was a jolt. I don't know why, but learning that Bill learned of Tom's future illness on their 19th birthday just made it all the worse. It doesn't make sense to me, but I have weird logic sometimes.
Now that I'm done with that little bit... I loved how real this chapter was. Every chapter has seemed real to me thus far, but this one just seemed even more real than the rest. I could perfectly see everything that happened playing out in my mind. I'm glad that Tom listens to Bill and tells the younger Bill about his illness. If only things could really work out that way, then everyone could have more time.
I think my absolutely favorite part in this whole chapter was when Tom was telling the younger Bill that he's sorry, and then Bill tells him that it's not his fault. The span of these seven or so sentences was so powerful, and so true to life. Tom's reaction to Bill's tear was so typical and so real, as was Bill's reaction to Tom's apology. I can so clearly see Tom's hurt and guilt, and also Bill's anguish. It's almost too real, because even after Tom blames himself. It's so... I don't really know what I'm trying to say. I loved the ending to this chapter as much as I hate it. Take it as a compliment. I love it because it was so real and so true to life (and maybe because it was able to make me cry), and I hated it because of being so real and true to life (and probably because it made me cry). I'm not sure I'm explaining myself correctly or not... I feel like I'm leaning more towards not. Simply put: because you're such a good writer, you brought this chapter (especially the ending) to life even more so than the rest of the chapters in this story (in my opinion). I love reading things that seem real to me and that's why I loved reading this chapter in particular. I hated it at the same time... because of how real you made this chapter, it made my reactions to what was happening so much stronger. Even now... I feel like I didn't just read about this exchange between Tom and a younger Bill, I feel like I was there. So I still feel the hurt. Haha. I really don't think I'm expressing myself how I wanted to.

Reading the chapter end notes kinda depresses me. I have grown to love this story so much that I hate to see it end, but I do realize that it kind of has to at this point. I completely understand that the way you're depicting Tom's illness is meant to be a representation. It's because of that, and not because you simply want to make in angsty, that it is so angsty... because you're making it real. I'm sorry to hear that you've shared a personal experience with this disease. I can't imagine. On a positive note, I never had any intention of not sticking this story out to the end. The story is too good, and you're too good of a writer, to let this go until it's completely finished. Couldn't stop reading even if I wanted to. :)

I'm sorry for the excessively long review.

Author's Response: Wow, thank you for the long review ♥ I\'m both really pleased it touched you and sad it upset you, but thank you so much for sharing the experience with me and it means a lot that you\'ll stick it out.