From: fkfan (bcammarata@shaw.ca)
Date: 03/25/2008 |
I am so pleased to have finally read this story.
I don't have to worry about too much sodium or fluid retention for the rest of the day. I will have to buy more Kleenex, though. I love long stories and I love kid!fic. You have done a lovely job. Thank you.
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From: springwoof
Date: 02/08/2008 |
I finally got around to reading this wonderful story, and wondered how I could have waited so long! What a neat story. I like all your OCs, they feel real and genuine and like actual people. so painful, and then such a wonderful happy ending. *loves*
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From: Luzula (luzulae@gmail.com)
Date: 01/16/2008 |
Oh YES. *happy sigh* This was such a satisfying read. In fact, I think it's my favorite of your stories so far. I am such a sucker for loooong, drawn-out sexual tension, and it was wonderfully done here. Interesting take on Fraser and why they don't get together earlier, and it really meshed well with the kidfic aspects, in that what Fraser really wants is a family. You actually made me cry a little with the parallels between Fraser and Jackson's situation. I love Ray with Jackson, all protective and so all-out in the way he loves. Also, that moment at the end, where Ray has performance anxiety and Fraser leans down to talk in his ear and shows how well he knows him... *shivers*
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From: Berty
Date: 01/16/2008 |
Hey Jay! Gosh, what a ride. And what an interesting angle to work the Fraser story from: untouchable right up until he allowed himself the chance to change. I love the insight into Ray and what a good guy he really is, and the detail on the flatmates added a nice feeling of reality to the fic.
Kid!fic is a tricky one to do well, but you've managed it effortlessly. This is how the story SHOULD end, you know? Thanks for sharing it with us.
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From: akite (akite68163@aol.com)
Date: 01/12/2008 |
I'm still working my way through the stories posted this year, but I'm so glad I jumped ahead, so to speak, and read this one. I had to once I read Lockers. Everyone that's posted about it has already told you how amazing everything about this story is. I just wanted to add my voice into the chorus.
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From: skyeisfalling
Date: 01/09/2008 |
I loved this so much. thank you for writing it.
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From: scriggle
Date: 01/08/2008 |
I only just got a chunk of time today to sit and read this. I am at a loss for words. I adore it. I love love the Ray voice in this. It's spot on to me. I love the relationship between Ray and Fraser and how it grows. Inshort, I just love it. It's going into my "re-read" folder.
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From: akamine_chan (akaminechan@gmail.com)
Date: 01/04/2008 |
JS - You know, I really don't like kidfic. Every time I say that someone comes along and writes a wonderful kidfic and I grumble and love it.
Grumble.
There are a million reasons why I love this story, aside from it overall technical excellence...let me count the ways. I loved Fraser showing off his "domestic skills" by detailing the oven with a toothbrush. I loved Fraser not scared by the sex, but by the chance of happiness. I loved Jackson and the way it all tied in with Levon. I loved Fraser's dorky grin and silly giggle at the end.
I loved that Ray had taken the time and effort to reach out and connect with Dantria and her son. I loved how Ray loved little Jackson. I loved how he tried to help them and how wary she was at first. I loved how passionate Ray is about Jackson.
I could go on and on, but let me just say that this was such a wonderful story...Thanks for all the hard work and effort, JS.
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From: bluebrocade (bluebrocade@livejournal.com)
Date: 01/02/2008 |
Such a beautiful story. I love it.
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From: slidellra
Date: 12/31/2007 |
Holy cow, this is mind-blowing. It's just so plausible and thorough and smart and gripping, and I'm in awe of how well-balanced the kid-plot and the romantic plot are. Hooray for this and hooray for you!
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From: CalllieR
Date: 12/31/2007 |
This story is amazing!
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From: green_grrl (certaintroublemaker@yahoo.com)
Date: 12/30/2007 |
I am completely in love with this fic!!! It's a kid!fic! And smart, and insightful and emotional and beautifully written. I teared up several times while reading it, with Ray hurting over what happened to Dani.
I love the way I could see it coming that Ray would adopt Jackson, but that it unspooled naturally in an unforced way. I love that I thought that I saw it coming that Ray was assuming Fraser knew about the attraction but that Fraser didn't really know. Nice to see that cliche sidestepped, and that it was Fraser's fear of happiness instead.
I love seeing Levon and the wrapup of Ray's volunteering at the gym, because I've always wanted the post-ep history on that. I love the realism and respect around the way Ray was with the prostitutes (so him!) and his reaction to the foster care system. I love the CPS and foster care OCs.
I love seeing Fraser in love with Ray, completely undone by seeing him with Jackson. I love Fraser letting his natural silliness out with Jackson, as he does with kids. I love watching Fraser take the chance on happiness.
*so many hearts*
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From: Sprat (sprat75@gmail.com)
Date: 12/30/2007 |
I already emailed you to let you know how much I loved this story, but allow me to reiterate: I loved this. It's absorbing and sweet and I can already tell it'll be a comfort fic re-read for me. Thank you so much for writing it.
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From: neu111
Date: 12/29/2007 |
Thank you for a nice long read. Great story. Everything's to love in it as the previous commenters detailed. I specially liked the background story of Ray with Danistra and Jackson, Ray at the gym - and the opening scene is for me the bestest!
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From: keerawa (keerawa@yahoo.com)
Date: 12/27/2007 |
God. This story just jumped into one of my Top Ten in the fandom spots. It is just AMAZING.
I was utterly captivated by the opening scene, Ray losing it over the body of a woman he knew, the flashing blue and red lights illuinating the grey alleyway, Fraser trapping his wrist so he couldn't hurt himself more.
Ray's relationship with Jackson, the handful of times they'd hung out making him the most important adult left in the little guy's life. That mention of the last time he saw Dani, Jackson, and Levonwith the list of things they didn't talk about. Fraser's reaction to seeing Ray with Jackson.
Ray trying to help Jackson through this and then, once he realizes how hard this is for Fraser, helping him, too. All of those aborted hugs and inappropriate reactions.
Fraser, afraid. Afraid that happiness might jump him from behind like a polar bear. And then the two of them finally reaching for everything they want.
That is one HELL of a story.
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From: grey853 (grey853@aol.com)
Date: 12/26/2007 |
Great story. I love the idea of Ray finally being a dad and having Fraser as his partner outside the job. The story hit all the right buttons for me without being preachy about how messed up the system is when it comes to children needing families.
Lovely, lovely job. Thanks so much for sharing it.
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From: Nos4a2no9 (nos4a2no9@gmail.com)
Date: 12/25/2007 |
Wow, this is an amazing story! I'm so thrilled and touched by all the effort and time you spent in crafting such a long and thoughtful response to my "kidfic" prompt, and I loved how it turned out! This story is fabulous: it works as a plotty case story, offers some touching insight into Ray's complicated relationship with Fraser, and you also offer a great characterization of Ray in all his prickly complexity.
The structure of this story is really well-planned: you set up the situation that brings Jackson into Ray's life in a way that felt natural. Some stories involving adoption feel a bit forced, but you carefully considered all of the details and made Ray's history with Dani and Jackson as realistic as possible. You didn't shrink from exploring the complexities of the situation, and I really appreciated the way you handled issues of race, class, drug addiction and sexuality. You didn't turn Dani into a monster, and you made it clear the system failed her long before she slipped into addiction, and that she tried her best to protect and care for Jackson. So this story wasn't about a white cop stepping in to "save" a child from the streets, but about Ray Kowalski doing his best to help one child out of a tragic situation. You showed a lot of sensitivity in the beginning and middle passages of the story, and the way you crafted Jackson's backstory and explained Ray's motives to get involved in his life was realistic and humane.
I also really liked the development of the relationship between Ray and Fraser. I adore the way Ray was able to pick up on Fraser's unease around the case and identify the reasons why Fraser might identify with a young orphan, and the revelation that Fraser was terrified of being happy felt like a fresh take on the first-time formula. Ray's desire for Fraser was nicely worked into the story, and everything built to a very satisfying climax (*cough cough*). In short, this fic was the perfect Christmas present. I loved it to pieces, and I really admire all the depth and detail you lent to the "give me kidfic!" request. Very well done, and thank you so much for the great story!
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From: MJLuvsPolar
Date: 12/25/2007 |
Loved it, loved it, *loved* it! I have a serious thing for Ray POV stories anyway, but well written ones like this gem... *squee* Ray was perfect - not the same as the series, but where I could honestly see him being a few years down the track. I think what I liked best of all about this story was the fact that Ray truly got what he wanted as well as what he needed. Oh and it doesn't hurt that it was so nice and long! All in all, I feel like I was the one who got a pressie with this fic, so thanks.
MJ :)
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