Just finished your story. Very interesting take on the whole gang! Loved it.

Amazing story! Could not put it down, I literally read it in one sitting :-)

This is one of the most complex and interesting concepts for a story I have ever come across, especially because it is actually based on a realistic problem. I was amazed by how well you were able to write each of the brothers as one man without causing confusion, and strangely found myself liking the separate sides, though I didn't expect to. The development in Brian and Justin's relationship was extremely well executed and I loved every moment of reading this. In fact, I could barely stop to take a break. It is a truly compelling story. Great job!

What a brilliant story. This is so well integrates the possible *why* behind Brian of the show that it's scary. The amount of thought and research must have been huge. Your passion really comes through in the details. Thanks so much for for sharing that passion and this story.

I have to say that I found this story accidentally. I didn't realize I had a QAF tab open and accidentally hit it on the way to another story. Your summary seemed to jump out of the screen at me though. It completely intrigued me in a way no other story has in a while. (And I read lots of fanfics) I stopped in the middle of the HP fic I was reading to check this one out. And I will say I did almost give up in the beginning. It was a little too confusing for me. But for some reason I kept on reading. Once the boys found Brian in the bar I was no longer confused. From then on I continued reading because I truly wanted to see what would happen. And you certainly didn't disappoint. This story was absolutely amazing. It's definitely something I've never come across before in fanfiction but it fits Brian so perfectly that I could see it being true. I truly enjoyed reading this. I am so proud of the way Justin stood up to everyone for him. Way to go on the Lindsay/Melanie/Michael thrashing. I completely agree. In the QAF story I wrote (you can find it on my livejournal link in my profile here) I did some thrashing of them myself. It amazes me that in other QAF stories so few people comment on just how horrible and manipulative they all are to him. Out of the entire "Liberty Gang," Vic, Emmett, and Ted are the only ones truly deserving of his friendship.

But anyway, now I've written you a novel :) I'll finish up this review. This really was an amazing story and I look forward to reading more from you.

Well, after your invitation I couldn't resist the siren's call of this story, despite the scary OOC as a warning. And now...
I've always thought that Brian had so many edges, so many masks he showed everybody, alternating, sometimes breaking his own rules. You've percieved it and expanded it into an astonishing story of pain, desperation, hope.
With all of the torture our Little boy, our Little Prince, has been through it seems almost frighteningly natural for him to close his eyes and escape in a world, where he won't remember it, leaving a facet of his heart and his personality to guard the memories, the pain. The relationship the boys boasted in the show became only another example of abuse on an innocent child. Years later, Brian had so many more other aspects, protecting him from others, from loving and oh-so-hurtful interfering, from his own self, until the point he was left broken, the prey of his own exhaustion.
That's when Justin reappears. Your Sunshine is as strong, loyal, protective and fiercely determined to make his Brian happy as I've always percieved him.
And all hell breaks loose - not only Brian has to face the diagnosys and resurfacing memories, but also he's put in a position where he has to struggle with the people he considers family.
Michael's relationship with Brian, IMHO, has always twisted. While Brian was bound to Mikey with invisible chains of his hunger for love and acceptance, because Michael has managed to get thorugh the wire when Brian was still a young and vulnerable boy, only learning to build the wall of the "tough Kinney act", Michael was blindly adoring Brian and the notion that he finally was noticed and by someone whom he percieved as a God. Despite we've heard these words from Justin on the show, I believe it was Michael that always saw Brian as the perfect man, despite and because of his flaws, imperfections and battered heart. But in reality our Brian needed support and the help only Justin was able to provide him in the end.
So, when Bri disappears, Mikey's worried about being hurt and frightened. It's always been about Mikey.
Then there's MeLinds and their f**ked up relationship with Brian. You've nailed it: the fact he signed the life insurance and then renounced his paternal rights is a perfect example. Linds, like Michael, was in love with the idea of Brian they had, not with the man himself.
I can disagree with your portrayal of Deb: she loved him more than that and she's never been as blind as MeLinMikey. But...
There's also Cynthia, Ted, Emmet, supportive, protective, understanding. They don't impose themselves on Brian and Justin and their presence itself is enough to help our boys.
Thank you for making me choke, close my eyes in pained silence and feel the pain, confusion, and finally hope at a better life with Brian and Justin, both fighters and survivors.
Nea

Love this so so much so far. I love your take on Brian's personality and the reasons for him being who he is.
Just one small annoyance. Ted's last name is Schmidt, not Schultz.