Date: 06/13/12 06:32 pm Title: Chapter 1
Bill's dream was absolutely horrifying. I love that Tom knew he was in distress without Bill even making a sound. Max hasn't even appeared yet, and I am already getting creep vibes from him. We'll see!
Author's Response: So happy you enjoyed the chapter and I managed to convey the horror of the dream, Tom's urgency in running to his twin and Max's creep factor...definitely something not right with that therapist. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to review. Next chapter is already written and just needs tweaking so hopefully will be posted soon. Hugs, Helen x
Date: 06/13/12 06:25 pm Title: Chapter 2
It's just sooo intense. Bill's going through hell in the flashback dreams, and the twisted dreams where he has to relive the rape with his family and even dogs watching. Tom loves him so endlessly and his love is just... so strong, so unconditional. It's amazing to read it. And Bill loves him back and craves him but - the therapist says no? I had to draw my breath a few times while reading, so intense, so good.
Author's Response: Thank you, thank you for such a lovely review. It's really encouraging when someone gets everything I'm trying to say. I especially adore Tom at the moment, he's just loves Bill so much and won't ever consider leaving him even when Bill tries to suggest it. Bill doesn't really want to lose Tom, he just feels incredibly guilty that he can't give Tom everything he thinks his twin needs. This was going to be a short - 2 or 3 chapters - sequel but its getting a little more complicated and I've already added this chapter as an extra into what I'd already written so I think it will grow a bit. And there'll defintely be more about Max's therapy methods. Thank you again for reading and taking the time to review. Next chapter should be up in a few days. Hugs, Helen x
Date: 06/13/12 05:57 pm Title: Chapter 2
Helennnn, you and the cliffs here, lately. This was such a heartbreaking chapter the way Bill's horrific nightmare, turned into that twisted fantasy of him and Tom and Tom an asshole within it by trying to get him to reveal them to everyone. But, the real Tom, or the one outside of Bill's nightmare is fabulous. I love the way he is with Bill, so gentle and caring and being there with him, despite their mom and Gordon being there to keep watch over them.
Oh, fuck and then there's Max. I wonder what "therapies" he's involving Bill in? I just don't trust him, not if Bill has to come home and have a breakdown afterwards just to face his brother.
You wrote this chapter so well and left me hanging at the edge of my seat, again!!! I can't wait for the next chapter. I absolutely adored your descriptions in the dream and I can't wait to find out more about Max. What exactly he's doing with Bill in therapy. Then, you end it with Simone checking up on them. I feel so bad for the twins and for her and Gordon, I just can't side with anyone here, and I can't wait until your next chapter to find out what she does if she finds Tom in Bill's room. This was incredible and so well-written, as always!!
Author's Response: As usual I love your reviews, you absolutely get everything I'm trying to convey. It was your suggestion, sweetie, that had me make Max less than trustworthy. I'm not exactly sure what's going on in those sessions but I have a good idea. Bill's prepared to do anything to make things okay so he and Tom can have a proper relationship, and that's why he's not questioning Max's methods, even though they upset him so much. And Tom is just so in love with Bill that he can't bear him to hurt in any way, especially when there's absolutely nothing he can do to take away the pain except be there for him, even when Bill sometimes tries to push him away by suggesting he should be with someone else. I'm actually pretty angry with Simone for being so paranoid, even though I realise its not her fault, and she can't know what its doing to the twins - Bill especially - because she doesn't know the full story about the Ralph/Melissa business. But I do want to slap her and tell her to get off their backs. Still, we'll see how that all works out. I can see this going a few chapters beyond what I'd planned because its getting more complicated than I'd thought. Thank you again for reading and offering suggestions and for your wonderful reviews. Sorry about the cliffhanger! Love you, Helen x
Date: 06/11/12 09:13 am Title: Chapter 1
Ooooh you posted the sequel!! *o* I've only seen it yesterday.
So good to read you again, I love your writing <3 I was a little worried because I haven't replied my e-mails, but if you're writing then everything must be ok!
Now I liked the dynamic between the twins and Simone and Gordon very much. Poor Bill is still broken, even though there's some hope it seems? But I'm with Tom, these experimental methods sound fishy. If I was there, I'd tell Tom to look it up more closely.
And though Simone's being irrational (I totally understand what makes her act the way she's acting, cockblocking the boys, but let's face it, she stopping them to do anything while she's around changes nothing in the way they'll act 100% of the time after she's back to Germany) I think a talk between Tom and Gordon would definetely be productive. I'm looking forward to this talk!
Thank you for this first chapter, dear! Hope everything's fine with you.
<3
Author's Response: Hi there, I did email you but I'm sorry not to respond to your review. I've been busy working on the next chapter which I posted last night. I had several chapters already written but this next one with the dream sequence popped into my head so I had to go with it. Happy that you liked this first chapter and you picked up on Max's experimental methods...there'll definitely be more to that later. And, yeah, Simone is being a bit crazy, but this thing is eating away at her. Not sure what she plans to do if she does discover her boys are sleeping together. Hopefully she won't ever find out...but then again, I haven't quite decided yet. I can see this being quite a bit longer than the 2-3 chapters I'd originally intended, but we'll see how it goes. Thank you so much for taking the time to review. Love Helen x
Date: 06/10/12 08:15 am Title: Chapter 1
Hooray sequel! I really enjoyed KUA and I'm glad you did this since things were clearly unresolved at the end of that story. This whole chapter was pretty tense - just want to shove Simone in a closet and let Gordon and the boys work it out.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review. I'm not sure if many people who read KUA have realised I've started the sequel because I've not had so much response so far, so your review is really welcome. This sequel will only be a few chapters long, mainly to resolve issues left over with the pendrive, but I'm planning to write another longer one that will set the twins a whole new set of problems...might just slip in a few happy moments too butI'm pretty much a writer of angst, I've realised, so it won't be all happy, happy. And, I agree, Simone is a real pain in the arse and she's about to get worse. I had the next chapter all written and then another scene flashed into my head so I'm writing that first. Hoping to post again later this coming week. Love Helen.
Date: 06/07/12 03:22 pm Title: Chapter 1
I've meant to read Keeping up Appearences for ever. Time seems to consume me and I get to read so little. When this one-shot came up it made me excited, it would be a taste of the longer story. And I do believe it is. The references to what happened make sense and it all comes across as the first period of relative calm after a very hard time for the twins. But things lurk around the corner: Bill's possible relapse into eating disorder, the mother's nervous spying on them, the step-dad's concern. In the midst of that the twins' own struggle, to find peace of mind and find back to each other. They never seemed to lose each other, but things got in between them and made their love hard. What a terrible thing, for Bill to be raped by the father of the dead girl. I hope he works hard in therapy and gets through the trauma. It is indicated that he might - he allows Tom to cuddle and kiss him, and the touch/moment by the refridgerator was definitely mutual. I will keep my eyes open for the upcoming parts.
Author's Response: Thank you for reviewing. KUA is a bit of a marathon read, but reading at least the last few chapters would help with understanding what's behind everything for this story. Still, I'm really glad you enjoyed the chapter and there is more to come. I have another couple of chapters more or less written and kind of know where its going. This will be nowhere near as long as KUA, probably just 5 or 6 chapters, and its really to conclude the events of KUA, as I have an idea for another sequel that will pick up about 6-9 months in the future. I'm happy you liked the moment between the twins at the refrigerator; I kind of liked that bit myself. I'm hoping to update again either at the weekend or the beginning of next week. Thanks again for taking the time to read and review.
Date: 06/05/12 11:08 am Title: Chapter 1
You're just gonna leave me...THERE?!? You have got to update this soon, woman. This first chapter was sooo intense and I was at the edge of my chair through the entire thing. I'm not sure who to feel sorrier for at this moment because I get Simone and Gordon's side of the whole thing, as well. I mean, the possibility of their twin sons being together romantically has to be nerve racking and hard to come to terms with. Tom is simply hilarious here and I loved the bit about the restaurant. It was a good save on his part, but I do feel for him having to talk to Gordon when Bill and Simone go shopping. Whis is where you left me...hanging...fucking cliff!!! I can't wait to read your update to this and will be checking for it often, my dear! Great work, as usual.
Author's Response: Hi sweetie, finally I get to thank you for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I do have the next chapter written but it needs some editing and I've been busy this week. I tried to put in a couple of light moments just to break up all the angsty stuff. Hopefully I'll update over the weekend or the beginning of next week. Hope to hear from you when you get a chance. Hugs, Helen.