what a great chapter! My heart aches for Az and Jeb but Jeb has a right to be hurt. I understand Az doesn't know what to do but she has to let him in, she cant keep shutting him out just because things get hard! I cant wait to read what happens next in our adventure! Congrats for making it to the half way point! Your almost there!

Oh. Poor Az. And Jeb. Stupid witch. I'm feeling not quite literate this evening, so this will have to do. I curious about the gryphons though...

A very aptly named chapter. Yes, things are turning, indeed.

I think the thing I enjoyed about this chapter the most, was the way that from though three (or four-ish) different view points, I felt I could nearly see some of the shattered fragments of this great mystery starting to fall towards their destination: to become a whole picture.

I did feel bad for Az, dealing with magical theory. Just reading that little bit was making my head spin. I can't imagine being able to plow through an entire chapter of that, let alone a book. Girl's got an iron will, and much more will power than I. But, apparently that doesn't apply to her love life. :( I imagine it's hard to be to amorous when any such interactions with your paramour bring the delight of sucking the life of others out to the forefront of your mind. It's got to be frustrating for Jeb as well, though I can't think of why he hasn't guessed that the witch might still be an issue. From his own experience, surely he must know and understand of triggers. Didn't he see any of that in his Resistance cell that he might be able to recognize the signs in his girl?

Will we hear more about Raw?

This chapter was absolutely covered in emotions and realizations. I really enjoyed the interaction between Charlie and Elisa-and additionally, the moment you mentioned clippers I felt as though their epiphany was my epiphany. XD Great writing, there.

Az's experiences with the texts reminds me of college, I'll be honest. I've fallen asleep a time or two before or have been stuck just blinking at something, trying to make sense of it. So I feel your pain, Azkadellia, I really do. -laughs-

In regards to their relationship...part of me just wants to walk up to them (fiction characters vs real individuals and breaking the fourth wall and all that jazz) and start talking to her about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the stages that victims (especially victims of abuse) go through. Half of me wants to hug her and the other half of me wants to throw DG at her so that Az can at least put a label on what she's feeling and start working toward exercises for handling it.

But then I remember that the situation is a tad more difficult than that. -sighs- And that she can't exactly stop midway into the scenario and attempt therapy (even though many of her issues have been taken care of in the previous story. Maybe once Raw is "found" again...?), especially when putting up a strong front with the Wonderland citizens.

Lastly: darn that Lucan Spade! -shakes fist-

Thanks for updating :)

Wow. I didn't even realize it had been that long, but i'm always happy to see a new update on an enjoyable story.
If you actually do decide to watch 'The West Wing' enjoy the cj/danny in season one it always made me smile(but be prepared cause if you're watching for them you're in it for the long haul cause they don't get together til the end of the series).

I'm presently digging through'Grey's Anatomy' fic after watching 6 seasons and I'm refusing to watch anymore to catch up after what they did to Izzie (if I was more of a writer than a reader I would so tackle some 'fix-it' fics or just strait on story slams for this show),

Loved Charles' appearance and behavior in this chapter. He's always fun to have around. And Az is trying to sort things out, but nothing is ever easy. I feel sorry for her and Jeb in this chapter. Great work. I look forward to more soon.

Thanks for the update:)

Honey, this chapter came out BEAUTIFULLY! I recognize some parts, but the way you're rounded it out and fleshed the scenes and characters out is so wonderfully done, you should be so proud! I'm sorry I wasn't around more to beta, but it clearly didn't hinder you one iota. A FAB setup to the prohpecy reveal; OOH so excited! XD

Have I not reviewed this chap? AUGH, I know I've read it before!

...or, shoot, did I? Gyah, I can't tell between the chaps and the previews you've sent me. I'm a TERRIBLE beta!

Well, here's your review at least, I'm sorry I missed one. On to the new chapter with me! :D

Oh you just made my day! Great chapter...can't wait to see more Duchess in action and of course more Az and Jeb :)

HA! YAY! Az essentially threw down the gauntlet and I'm glad that Jack met her honestly (?), head-on. Now they can stop dancing around issues (maybe?). And she's finally gotten an inkling that the Duchess is his equivalent of the Shadow Man. Tehehe. :3 I'm glad that you had the interaction next to the Eye Room, and the Red Queen's fate was an eye opener (pun intended. Ha ha. XD).

The dance scene made me laugh. And laugh and laugh some more. Az and the Duchess, I swear, are cut from the same cloth. Different sides, but same cloth nonetheless. :D And the Duchess's flirtation with Jack was aching and yet humorous at the same time. She pushes his buttons, but then so too does he push hers unknowingly. Hmm...

Their interaction in the Duchess's "official" quarters was...unexpected, to say the least. I guess I had forgotten that Jack hadn't said anything about the prophecy, so her reaction to that information was probably as startling to me as it was to her. But now Az understands the Duchess much better, due to her accidental show of emotions, and they have some sort of truce between them due to shared information...somewhat.

Always an interesting time, here in Wonderland...I can only wonder what you've got up your sleeve next? (I'm guessing a side exploration into Raw's situation, or Lucan Spade;s to break up the pacing, but that's just a guess.)

Well I enjoyed the politics. :)

However, I'm so missing Jeb and Az time! *sigh* But I shouldn't complain. I really love getting Duchess's perspective. Probably one of my favorite characters.

"bigger than Jeb, but smaller than Jem." I cannot believe after all this time and having only very recently rereading Splinters, that it this part of the sentence alone that makes me realise how close their names are.

Fantastic. They finally stopped dancing around (as much...). And Az and Duchess having a little tea while talking about political intrigue. That has to be something to behold. Nice work and I look forward to more soon. Good luck.