And there! There was Mina. I really liked her and she seemed like the perfect piece to Ryan's story. For the series' writers I also thought that they did Ryan's leaving perfect for his character. But still I just love the relationship in between Ryan and Mina and Mike is just the greatest dad. Thanks for writing and sharing this story. It's been great.

Now it seems fanfiction's got a bug and I can't post a comment.

Poor Ryan but this whole thing with his mum was just the perfect storyline for him. How dare she even call Ryan "love" or talk about Chloe the way she does- as if Chloe should need her. But where's Mina in this? Did I forget something? Anyway. You're welcome, sorry it takes me so long to get caught up every time you post a new chapters.

This made me emotional ... I wish I could put my feelings into words but it's just made me sad about Ryan leaving all over again. But I'll try.

I guess the first thing I'll say is that the first time I watched the actual episode, when it ended with him leaving, I was so shell-shocked that I barely had room to feel anything else. That was partly because it was so abrupt, coming out of nowhere with almost no proper setup. It was only comprehending it afterwards and watching it over again that I felt sad. For a while, it legit felt like grieving, like losing someone very dear to me.

But the way you've written it, you manage to evoke those feelings as they come, by taking the time to establish him leaving and his and the others' feelings surrounding that. I loved the way in which Chloe decided that she and Ryan would be better off without their mother, it's probably a weight off her shoulders as well.

My God, the way you went so in-dept with Mina's feelings, unravelling all her layers. She's a great character, literally on par with Ryan himself. It was so sweet that she gave him the ring (headcanon: years later they get married and he puts that ring back on her finger. Just a sweet thought), it just shows their connection.

Anyway, I'm sad, this is bittersweet, great story overall. It's up to you whether you do a part 2 but I'd definitely be interested in it.

Justice xxxxx

I ... am really sorry. Turns out, taking on a second year uni degree plus three societies leaves you with a burned out mental state and practically no time for anything! But enough about me. It’s about time I review this.

Good ... gravy. When I first saw this scene, my thoughts were that the acting and writing were utterly impeccable. This chapter actually managed to enhance all that. The descriptors of Ryan’s thoughts and actions feel so vivid, my favourite is probably the lines “He dropped his guard. He watched it clatter on the floor and echo throughout the room,” like ... damn. The tension reading this was so palpable that I was literally holding my breath, even though I knew what was gonna happen, it feels like you’re walking on a knife edge and just barely teetering either way.

In any case, I really hope you can do a better job of Ryan’s exit than the episode did, actually explaining where he went and why he left at this point. I think I’ve said this before but even though the flat scene was amazing, the rest of the episode felt rushed and scrambled, like it didn’t quite fit together properly. Of course, this has the extra dimension of Ryan’s relationship with Mina.

Justice xx

Poor Mina. I always liked the storyline with Ryan and the horses... Please update soon.

At this whole chapter I could just see everything in front of me. And at the beginning it just made me smile. Great way to get in something that wasn't all serious. Ugh, Chloe! I get that she wants to look out for Ryan but couldn't she just have stayed out of theri relationship? I hope that Mina will get to do more than just go to a concert. Go bowling, have an mp3 and all of that. I had one of those since I was like eight, nine. So to me it just seems like... of course! But in this chapter and to Mina...

I am so freaking sorry it took me this long to review, uni has been stuffing my days full to the brim. But I loved this chapter, it really gives us a good look into Ryan’s head and thought process during the whole episode. As you probably know, I have mixed feelings towards the episode in question, I found the first half a bit unpalatable, but you did a really good job with it here, making it accurate while also entertaining to read. Can’t wait to see how the next chapter plays out, there was always the huge gaping elephant in the room as to why Ryan left and where he went, so I’m hoping you can handle that well, especially with Mina in the mix.

Justice xx

This chapter was definitely interesting, with Chloe doubting the value of Mina's influence on Ryan. With Ryan always filling in the role of the protective older brother, it's a nice spin to have Chloe worrying about him and his feelings for a change. This probably harkens back to chapter 14 where Chloe met Nathan the Prick and doesn't want Ryan to go through the same thing.

It does bring up some interesting questions about Ryan and Mina's dynamic, regarding whether they're really good for each other or whether they're becoming dependent/enabling each other, which isn't a healthy relationship no matter how much you feel "right" with the other person, and I love seeing how that's explored here. I definitely want to see where they go from here and how they'll handle this new situation.

Also, I found myself attached to the line about Mina skipping childhood and entering adulthood prematurely - perhaps humourous out of context, but of course, knowing about her past and how she was going to be forced into marriage at a young age, it just hits you like a truck.

Justice xx

I liked that beginning when Mina just wanted to stay in bed forever. And I loved the storyline with going to the stables and Ryan and Charlie. I saw one spot where you've mixeed up your and you're. But I just love this story.

Awwwh, I loved this chapter. I like how it stuck faithfully to the canon episode while also expanding on Ryan’s inner thoughts and feelings in a way that’s relatable and understandable. It’s also nice how you integrated Mina’s role in Ryan’s mind into it, or I should say, how you separated her from Ryan’s mind. It shows how ultimately, people should change for themselves rather than for other people or outside influences. Those things can help, yes, but the core of it should be you.

This choice of yours to include the beginning of Ryan’s job at the constabulary is making me wonder what it’s building up to ... okay, I think we both know where this is going, but I meant how it’ll arrive there, with Mina in the mix.

It’s also opportune how you uploaded this chapter now, seeing how I was reminding myself about Ryan’s time in the stables for a oneshot I’m writing, unrelated to my current book.

Justice xx

I ... am so sorry it took me this long. Uni has been hectic and exams are upon us, but I’m finding time to review now.

This chapter was so sweet, my favourite part was the conversation between Mina and Fatima about the past, about how there are good times and bad times and we have to accept that. I really loved the little touch of how the clothes don’t have to be associated with bad memories and how they can take them and make them good again. We wouldn’t blame them for trying to leave it all behind, but it’s admirable how they still try to find the good in it and associate with it.

Of course, the kind of unwilling “birthday” party was very in keeping with the show, I saw some parallels with Ryan’s in the show, where it was helping him let go of the bad parts of the past and even loosen up a bit, until Laces came in and ruined everything. It always annoyed me how it was never mentioned again, like in the episode Submarine where it’s said that Kazima is the only one who doesn’t celebrate birthdays, and then Alex a few seasons later, with not so much as a throwaway line referencing Ryan’s aversion to birthdays. Like, it’s not that hard to forget ... damn it writers.

Anyway, the character progression is amazing as always, I like how unlike the RyanXOC stories of an era gone by, you actually take time to build up and develop their relationship instead of him falling in love at the drop of a hat.

Justice xx

Oh my. I couldn't imagine what it must be like for a person to have to change one's life, let alone several times to leave everything behind like that. And just to leave it all behind from earlier, while scared it might come back. Wow... I just love this story. I can't see what happens next.

Yay, Fatima’s back! Bless her, honestly, she’s such an angel, looking out for Mina/Kaneez and tracking her down. She actually reminds me of Kaz’s father Hakim in that sense. It’s wonderful to read about how they’re so happy to be back together, and it’s also fantastic that the other women are working hard to help more young girls like her forced into such marriages. We need more people like them in the world.

But now Mina’s past has been revealed, wow. Safe to say, even though they’ve all had it tough, Mina has arguably had it the toughest. That bit with Ryan at the end, about how he doesn’t want to be the boy he’s always been, was that a reference to his last episode? (I probably will never get over that.)

Justice xx

Aw hahaha. That ending line was just perfect- always time for food. And a lot of changing in Mina's life... I hope somehow they can all work it out. I find names very interesting- mine's a flower so it's actually boring. But little king... Great chapter. I'm just loving this story and every little piece of it. But I'm guessing there's not much left of it now with Fatima back and everything. Can't wait to read more.

Great chapter, now I can't wait to read more. I get that Ryan is protective after all the time they spent away from each other but Nathan really did seem like a nice guy at first, even though over-protective in a whole other way than Ryan. But no, this is bad. This is terrible... I can't wait to see what happens next.