And that my friend, is how you start off Labor Day Weekend, Woohooo! ::Happy Dance:: The fact of the matter is that Billshido is undeniable. I must admit that for a second there I thought you were going to kill him off, and well, I can't even talk about the emotional roller coaster that followed. I'm sure they're going to be so many roadblocks to come, but I beg of you, please don't
let Bu have brain damage and not remember Bill or be wheelchair bound or something like that. I can deal with a "gimp" hand but nothing too horrible. I must say that Tom and Bill going in a taking control in such a calm manner was impressive. And Tom really came off as dare I say it, sexy, which is totally inappropriate to say considering the circumstances, but he was. He's so smart and can think everything through, definitely his father's son. And Bill, oh Bill would be a brilliant leader in terms of being feared. He's a little twisted with just the right amount of crazy thrown in there. There were so many great moments in the chapter: Andy's total devotion to Bill and the conversation between Tom and Raf, their chemistry is so unique. But the highlight of this chapter for me was, in fact, the description of this title: The Connecting Auras. Let me just take a moment and applaud you on the scene you wrote with Ani having his first out-of-body experience while being tortured and finally being able to see,feel, and become(for a moment) the connection the twins have, the "spiritual umbilical cord" as you put it. That was so good I actually just shook my head in awe. The way you made me see the connection just blew me away. Everything from the colors to their connecting auras was so deep, alive,profound and flowing with an energy so strong I felt as though I could reach out and touch it,just...beautiful and overwhelming in the best way possible. You outdid yourself with this one and I can't wait to see where you go from here. :) :) :)

Author's Response: BILLSHIDOOOOOO!!! I had a blast writing this chapter. I knew the perfect pieces to the puzzle were out there. All it took was Poppi's death, and Ani's near-death experience, Bill and Tom taking charge, and ta da! Magic! lol...I'm so happy I wasn't the only one who enjoyed it. Now that I've gotten the twins to this point, we have a reason realistically put them in charge of the family business, hooray. It's almost like I planned the whole thing... lol... This chapter had a lot of the characters in it, so there was some bouncing around, but I really like Andy and Raf, and even the secondary guys like all the cousins. It was hard to kill off Poppi, but it just seemed inevitable for this story. The twin's time is nigh...and Bill is going to kick some serious ass. You know, I was really hoping you'd like the aurical umbilical cord scene - I was a bit worried it would come off as a bit schmaltzy, but at the same time, it was a bit quirky, so I thought it might work. For someone else to be able to "see" why and how the twins are so connected, and then to actually become part of that thing for just a moment, could only happen one way. So of course, your review just made my day! Looking forward to writing the next chapter, and knowing you'll be reading it!

just wanted to add that as much as i dislike the ford flex, whenever i see one (which is becoming more and more frequent) i can't help but picture tom driving with a couple car seats in the back. makes me smile.

Author's Response: I have never been a fan of Fords, but I must admit, I do like the Flex. It's Tom's daddy-mobile, I have to like them!

So this is what you do when you're having trouble with the direction your story is taking!!! You can't be trusted, woman!!! You go and kill off poor Poppi, and have Bu abducted and so beaten up that if he survives he'll have a permanent disability. He has to survive, you realise, because I don't think I'll ever forgive you if you kill him too. Okay, I might, but I will be seriously pissed...for a very long time. So, with Poppi gone, the twins will have to step up and take control. Not going to be easy; methinks there'll still be shitloads of dissent about the gay twins being in charge, and maybe a lot of trouble and strife so they'll have to fight and prove they deserve their inheritance. And that's after they take revenge on whoever ordered the hits of Poppi and Bu. I'm thinking now that Bill's relationships could go in a couple of ways...he could nurse Bu back to health and realising how he nearly lost him for good they could get back together (and you could throw a lot of angst in there with Bu all battered and scarred and disabled thinking Bill deserves better than a broken down wreck like him). Or...Zane could hear what's happend and come racing back from Texas to be there for Bill and he could be instrumental in bringing the perpetrators to justice (or handing them over to the twins to take their revenge) and thus earning his right to be in Bill's life. Or, Bu could die and Zane stays gone and, after all the drama and heartache, Bill's content to have Tom and be a part of his and Andrej's family and not look outside of that for love again...and maybe he'll have a kid with their surrogate mummy just to add to the crazy mixed up situation. Have I guessed right at all? No, don't tell me, I want to see where you take this. As for Andrej(a)...I'm glad I'm not the only one felt a little sad that she had the op. I felt guilty for feeling that way because, after all, this is a real person, but I loved Andrej's androgonous look and preferred her/him/ whatever in guy's clothes but looking distinctly feminine...it was the contrast. Like you said, she's just another pretty female model now. Oh, well, it's her life and I hope she'll be happy now and feel at home in her own skin. As for me writing? I keep having ideas and will stay awake sometimes with scenarios running through my head, but as for putting them down in written form...its not really happening right now. Don't know what it is, but I'm going through a really weird phase at the moment, feeling so disconnected from life and everything, and it's such an effort to get up enthusiasm for anything. I have started a couple of things but no more than a page or so, and I can't seem to order my thoughts and see a direction for any of my ideas to progress. So, for now, I'm reading a few things on here and hoping my mojo returns some time soon because I still get that 'head about to explode' sensation sometimes when a scene won't leave me alone...I simply seem incapable of putting my thoughts into words. So frustrating. Okay, I'll leave you be for now...I guess I've made up for my lack of/short reviews lately with this one. Hope you're working on sorting out the mess you left with this chapter. Can't wait for the next one. Howz the wrists btw? Still giving you problems? Oh, and Scotland was beautiful and we even had pretty good weather. That's it, I'm really done. Love and huggles, Helen xx

Author's Response: See what kind of trouble an undisciplined mind gets into?? I'm totally ashamed of myself. I didn't kill of a major character, but Poppi comes uncomfortably close. And now, yes, it's the Incestuous Mafia Twins show! It won't be easy, but not everyone is going to know about them. The Trumpero family has deep roots and lots of branches - most of the guys working for Poppi probably never even met him. It's like running a huge corporation - it'll only be the highest up who give a shit about who the CEO is. All the little peons want is an occasional raise and good health insurance. And Bill and Tom have been taught to take care of all the little cogs in the machine, so everyone should be placated. We all fear instability; as long as there's someone in charge keeping things status quo, the twins shouldn't have too many problems. I hope. Because if they do, that's going to be a whole other story, and I'm kind of ready to wrap this one up! Okay, so... IF Bu comes back safe, is Bill going to nurse him back to health? Silly woman! You know I NEVER EVER EVER EVER do hurt/comfort! Pffff.... ha ha ha! Well, at least we remember that BILL doesn't make the best nursemaid. We'll have to see... But what if Zane comes back? Maybe HE could be the one to nurse Bu, and become his right-hand bodyguard! Wouldn't Bill have a hell of a lot of fun with that situation! As for Bu dying.... you know how I feel about MCD! Nuff said. Wait...however...sometimes, certain unsavory plots must be written... So, nevermind. But Bill never needing anyone else? This is one very needy and clingy and romantic Bill you're talking about! And he's only 22! He does not do well without a boyfriend. As for Andrej(a) - no need to feel guilty about preferring him as a girlish boy! It's simply a preference, not a judgment on him. I mean, her. Sigh...another pretty blond girl...as we agree - yawn. I understand how you feel all out of sorts. Hope it's not a case of the Super Icky Sticky Blahs. I am glad that you had an enjoyable trip to Scotland! And nice weather, too, that's unheard of! I hope a happy, calm cloud descends on you from above for you to float on for a while. And if you don't drag your computer up onto the cloud with you to write a short story or three, ah well, you'll get to it, and I'll be waiting (me and your other fans!). My arms? they friggin suck! I'm thinking I'll be in pain for about another year before they start to heal. Stupid tendonosis! Talk to you soon snookums!

First of all, I felt my Karmic Embrace senses tingling yesterday during dinner, and checked and it wasnt updated. I was dissappointed that it seemed our psychic connection wasnt working anymore, then checked when I got home and it was there :) so I read it last night and really shouldnt have, lol. Ahhh....well. Shit. Poppi's finally gone and it seems to have flipped a switch in Bill. Things just got real, let's hope he remembers most of what his father tried to teach him now that push comes to shove. Damn. And Ani's going to need some crazy recovery time if they get him out of this (which they will if the Zane thing is a done deal, which it feels it is.) Dating a fed is pretty different from the top of a crime syndicate, isn't it, Bill? Because now it will be he and Tom, and Ani, that will be making the tough decisions. I don't think it would have sat well with Zane in the end :( so...now I guess I'm putting my eggs in Bu's basket. Basically I'm on team find love for Bill. Don't break my heart again!

Author's Response: See, we're still on the same psychic wavelength, after all! Love how you pointed out that being with a fed is a hella lot different now! If they were together, still sneaking around, I'm pretty sure Bill would have broken it off. Or...maybe asked Zane to quit the fbi and join them? Hmmm...I can see it going either way. However, Bill would not have garnered a lot of respect if he was getting it from The Man. And you're very right that Zane probably wouldn't have taken to the life very well. He's one of them law abidin' types. There's a lot of stuff happening right now (poor Ani! Is he going to get out of it alive?? What about Bill and Tom? How are they going to handle all of this? What about Tom's plan to make a new baby? And is Bill going to...) Well, there's just lots of stuff. I'm happy you're on team Bu now. I will try my best not to break your heart!

THE FUCK???
if you're going for a bill nursing bu back to health and then they get back together, i just may have to murder you.
but nooooo, not poppi!!!!

Author's Response: >_> ....... >_>........ ssshhhhhh.... lets just mourn the loss of poppi for now, shall we?

I hope bill n zane meet each other again i'll would really hate to see bill with bu after what he did to him, he just doesn't deserve him .. Great chap by the way :) ... sorry english is not my first language.

Author's Response: Everyone says Bu doesn't deserve Bill, and I am completely flabbergasted by that! He found his boyfriend in bed with his brother! That's pretty crushing, if you ask me. And now, Bu seems to have forgiven Bill, which is kind of nice of him. I understand wanting Zane with Bill, though - no hard feelings, no broken hearts, no ugly past. It's fresh and easy and sweet. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens next! Thanks for writing, your English is just fine :)

Wow it's really amazing to actually see how much Bill has grown since his relationship with Bu. He's really starting to see that there is more to his life than just being in a relationship! I definitely feel that even if Billshido did come back Bill will be more mature this time and they will have a more honest relationship now that everything is out in the open. Anyways I'm so happy for Bill now that he's trying to be a little less selfish! Great chapter!

Author's Response: Very astute! Bill went from being sixteen to twenty-two, and he'd gone through a serious, long-term depression for several years. Now that he's mostly out of that, maybe he'll be a little more emotionally smarter when it comes to making choices. I'm happy to know you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for letting me know!!

Heartbreaking.

I sincerely loathe Bu.

Author's Response: I'm thinking there's about a 50-50 split between Bu and Zane. I'll mark you down for the side that mostly hates Bu ;)

Thanks for you response to my comment to this chapter

Bu does not deserve Bill, because he did not fight for his love and Bill when he came on Bill with Tom. He jsur ran away like a coward.

On a different issue, I am sad that Bill never told Zane about his visions of his past lives. I would like to know what Zane would think about that.

Author's Response: Maybe Bu should have stayed, at least to confront Bill for cheating on him (with his brother!), but I think Bu was utterly crushed by it. And Bill telling Zane about the past life thing? Well, he was trying NOT to believe in it anymore, plus, they really just started dating, and it's a good idea to hide your craziest side til you know someone a little better!

;_; it seems best left as is. The only alternative I can see is if Zane quits the agency and turns to a life of crime. Yah, yah, he could set up some ops and someday, when theyre valuable and established, offer them to Poppi for Bill's hand. And be made part of the family. This denial stuff really is great!

Author's Response: I would love for Zane to be one of Poppi's soldiers! #1 hit man! He and Raf would make a good team, taking down other mafia thugs and bosses! ....yeah,a scene with those two would be fun to write.... I wish I had more time for Raf! And I love the idea of Zane making Poppi a proposition for Bill's hand! That's great! I need to write some one-shots of "AU" for this "AU!" As for denial...It's not just a river in Egypt...lol...that was bad.