Hah! I told you I'd read something of yours! And I absolutley love it. You've done such a wonderful job with Steve. I really love him in this. How he's still blunt and stubborn, but he still has emotion. Really, really beautiful job with this.

This is nice, in a sad way. The emotions are really strong through this piece, and I think they're well written. KUDOS!

Argh...it frustrates me that I can't find a good, long Outsiders fic. I hate having to start over with a new plot so soon.

Well Wishes,
SockMonkey

amazing story it seems like our Steve is finally getting the attention from writers he diserves I really hope you update soon im a little sad that SodaPop had to die but can't be to picky please upate soon pretty please?

Wow this is a really good story! I don't think i've ever read such a good one with a concept quite like this. Keep it up!

It looks as if Steve has some other problems other than dealing with the kids he's counseling. Very interesting.

Will we learn more about Steve's immediate family in the next chapter?

Wow, this is a fantastic opening chapter! I really love all the emotion you manage to evoke with Steve being as emotionless as he is. I can't wait to read more of this, I can tell it's going to be great. I wish I could read the 1st chapter, but I'm just on my way out the door. Great job on this, I'll be adding it to my faves/alerts.

Whew, that Katherine person would really get on my nerves... just seems too perky. I'm surprised Steve can put up with her. Of course, like you said, he's different now. Seems more mellow.

Ah ha! I do believe I found a typo... "What do you want me to do? Bear my soul?" Shouldn't it be "bare my soul?" It's always such an accomplishment to find a mistake in one of your stories...

Haha, I love what you put in about Darry having a son. I hadn't really thought about that before, but it seems entirely appropriate. He wouldn't have any idea how to raise a little girl.

Hm, another typo! I'm simply on a roll today, aren't I? If I'm right, "... and peaked over his shoulder..." should be "and peeked over his shoulder..."

Haha, I love everything that you have in here about Steve. There's all these little details that just build him up to be very much the same person, but more mature and much different, if that makes sense at all. Like what you put about his kids being "the only good thing he got out of settling down" and how he doesn't like his son-in-law.

Anyway, I loved the chapter, as usual, and am looking forward to more.

: )

Sorry, been a little busy so this was the first opportunity I had to catch up on all these stories and such. But, as I'm sure you already know, I do love the entire idea for this story, and I'm so glad you're writing it.

The pace flows nicely and Steve is, as seems to be your trademark, perfectly in character.

“'You stopped writing,' he said accusingly. 'We thought you were dead.'
'I’m not,' Steve replied awkwardly, shifting on his feet under Darry’s intense gaze."
Haha, I loved that. It feels very much like Steve, his short, to the point response.

I liked that little detail you added in too, about Pony's voice being deeper. It kind of helps remind everyone that a lot of time has passed and things aren't the same.

Anyway, I'm off to the next chapter.

: )

You know I really liked that you made it almost sort of difficult for Steve to get through to those kids. I always imagined it being easy for him, I mean considering his personality it seems like people would listen to him. I liked that you wrote it that way though. It added some tension and shows that it's not going to be easy to convince them in the long run (I hope that made sense).

Matt sounds like he's very strong-willed and sticks to what he believes in and it's cool that he and Steve had that conversation, maybe they can end up helping each other in some way.

I liked his conversation with Darry, too. I think maybe now that they're older they'll be able to understand things about each other more and it seems like already Darry is giving him good advice. (I hope all this makes sense, I feel like I don't make sense today, so I apologize.)

Anyway, once again I loved reading this. Your talent for writing is so amazing, it truly inspires me! I can't wait for the next chapter! Happy holidays. :D

Peace..
Sarah

I think you've definitely kept Steve in character. I can see him still being confrontational and to-the-point in the group therapy situation. I like that you have him unwilling to share his experiences with them, even though that would humanize him and make it easier for the kids to relate to him.

The conversation at the end with Darry was also very good. I like that you added the information about how their lives have changed in a natural way without making a laundry list of what their family life is now. Great job.

This is incredible. Poor Steve, so obviously suffering form post traumatic stress disorder. It's amazingly researched; you've done a fabulous job.

I loved that he felt as if he was no longer an ordinary person; so many veterans I've talked to express the same feelings.

Is this the first review? I think so. Yay.

But, wow. Oh my God. Honestly, this has left me speechless. I don't even think I've read anything that captures the difficulties of post-war homecoming as well as you have done. The things that war does to you are so absolutely terrible, and poor Steve - he has to live with all of that for the rest of his life now. If that were me I think I'd just crumble over time; I wouldn't be able to live with the memories.

I love that you can see how much he's changed, when you think about the kind of person he was before the war compared to the kind of person he is now, and how awkward seeing everybody again was. I imagine it would be like that for any war veteran, because nobody else has seen the things that they have seen. But I think you captured that perfectly.

And wow your writing style is so amazing and unique! I really love this so far; you are so talented. :D

Peace..
Sarah