I don't know how I missed this chapter, but somehow I did. I just randomly came to the realm and looked at some of my favorite stories and saw this. Excellent. Anyhow, this chapter was too much. Of course, I loved how Forge tried to impress Ororo with all his gadgetry. That kiss wasn't too bad either. Too bad Logan had to witness, but damn if she didn't hit the nail on the head when she told her exactly what she thought about him and his inclinations. Loved this!

Author's Response: It wouldn't have been that interesting a kiss if Logan hadn't walked in on it, to me. I like me some Forge, but this ain't his story! (not this time; Hobbins told me I need to write a "FoRo" piece after this) I liked the idea of Ororo being blunt with him, even if she was a little fickle, kissing another guy after she briefly rocked Logan's socks, but she's free to keep her options open. Logan will have the chance to redeem himself shortly.

I finally sat down to read this fic and devoured it.

Your word choice, prose, and dialogue are picture perfect. You throw in enough description to set the imagination in overdriver without brow beating the reader with it. Dialogue is always true to character, witty and informative without the brow beating again.

There's enough humor in the inner and outer dialogue that it keeps the pace moving without rushing. Fluid. The whole thing is perfectly fluid. You shift easily between scenes and locations, taking the time to show us exactly what you had in mind with each. Wonderful, truly wonderful.

Now, the characters. Oh dear God. Firstly, I want a Forge. Can I have him? I'll arm wrestle Ro for him. Good God. I've never seen Forge written so perfectly, with exactly right proportions of humor, intellect, wit and yummyness.

Secondly, Hank just rocks. Tha is all.

Third, Ororo is HUMAN. Holy shit. Few writers manage to make her seem human through and through. Here, she has flaws and foilbles and human needs. It shows, it makes her that much more appealing. The fact that she won't let Logan bolt on her again...just rocks. You rock. I love her.

Fourth, Logan. You've captured everything I love about that character, everything I think Marvel and Fox have forgotten. Though he's his badass self, he shows flickers of that intellect and a vulnerability we caught glimpses of in the X movies. He's well rounded here, picture perfect and loveable while I want to shake him senseless.

And finally, all of the kids are perfect. Lorna and her sharp lonesomeness, her will to reach out to anyone willing to show her kindness. Erik is puzzling for me, with layers I want to peel away so I can get to the meat of that character.

This is brilliantly presented, expertly executed and has me chomping at the bit for another wonderful taste.

Like pie. *grin*

Brava, woman. Brava.



Author's Response: *blinks* Wow...I'm stunned and floored at this wonderful review and feedback, particularly since I love your stories so much for the excellent characterization, humor, heartbreak, and dialogue, so this left me speechless and wanting to make sure I don't disappoint with subsequent chapters (when I shake my habitual writer's block). I like writing kids; I'm old as dirt, but part of me still remembers what it was like to be a teenager, and the notion of being "up in the bleachers" as been playing in the corners of my mind as a new fic, but I haven't decided when or how yet. Lorna is like many of the funny girls I knew in high school who remorsely smoked in the girls' room or painted their nails in study hall or who passed me notes in my locker between classes and didn't make any excuses for themselves. Real Gamma Girls are how I thought of them, as opposed to Alpha Females like Monet, or Betas like Paige in that chapter. Erik always touched me as a villain, because he had so much potential for good but could never get past his pain long enough to stop inflicting it. And again, Ororo as human is something I see you and Hobbins doing with every story, and wishing I could manage a semblance of it, so thank you, thank you, thank you.

Dang that was quite the showdown. I wonder what Logan will do with the big chunk of knowledge Ro laid on him. I also wonder what they will do with the reconnaissance Logan did.

Author's Response: We shall see. Heh. Logan took a little exception to being told off...

great chapter as always but please update soon

Author's Response: I will work on it! Thanks.

Cee! You rock! We'll have to chat this weekend.... anyway, loved the spat between Logan and 'Ro. I loved the danger room part too, well before Forge and Ororo kissed. I've just always been a RoLo girl. I grew up on the cartoon, not the comics lol

Author's Response: There's my girl! Missed you today! Glad you liked the spat. I love writing these two when they're mad, for some reason. Easier to imagine the dialogue when they start to snap. I love RoLo, too, but back in the day, Forge and 'Ro were one of my favorite 'ships. So sue me! Talk soon.

wow!!! that was intense...poor logan

Author's Response: awww, poor Logan? Yeah, he was the one who took a hit in this chapter, but Ororo needs to get busy and find better ways to keep his attention. I figured the least he deserved was a beer. Thanks for reading.

Yep! That 's what I'm talking about!!! That was great! I can't wait for more....Logan had it coming and Forge is a good challenge for Logan. Now.....what is Logan willing to do to keep Ororo? Ohhh.....I like this....



Author's Response: Logan? He's always been willing to go to the wall for Jean, believing that he loved her, so he will probably do something pretty big, pretty soon. Glad you enjoyed it, 'Phoenix.