Love, love, love, love this! And super excited for what's next. Wink wink.

Author's Response: Thank you! Working on the next chapter now :)

So far I'm loving this alternate ending to Casino Night. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Author's Response: Thanks so much! I hope you continue to enjoy this fic. I just posted chapter 2, so would love to hear more of your thoughts.

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I find the Karen character development very possible and believable. The line about kids was definitely a gut punch. You don't come back from that. Really can't wait to see what happens now that we've seen their POVs from the run in.

Author's Response: Oh yeah, it’s such a reality for people. I personally know people who have ended relationships because their S.O. did not want kids when they did. Poor Jim, all he wants is a family of his own. Especially now in his late 30s

LOVE this first chapter. The detail and mystery is awesome, and I like the mix you mentioned of 13 Hours, JR and QP. I can't wait to read more. And, hear what happened to Dwight. More please!

Author's Response: Thank you! I love his portrayal of those characters and I wanted to see that more woven in with Jim's personality. Thanks for reading!

Very excellent breather chapter. Nice to see the light moment of the wedding and bringing Tony and Sasha in to the fold. His evolution is really interesting, especially with his outburst and anger. As always, love the tender JAM moments.

Author's Response: Yes, Toby has definitely evolved and it will play a big part in his decisions. Thanks for reading and reviewing! 

So I read the next chapter and was like, wow, I'm so confused, I guess we're jumping ahead, LOL. Then I found this chapter and it all fell in to place. Phew. Personally, I like this darker side of Toby and how JAM interact with him. The scene in the cellar was hot but also very foreboding of what was to come. I'm guessing what Toby told Mac was about the mine? Or something else? Either way, love it and can't wait for more.

Author's Response: Oh my, I bet that was really confusing! We will come to see what Toby reveals to Mac and the price he pays for that later, don’t worry. :) Thank you for your review! 

So good, so good, so good, so good, so good, so good, so good!! Honestly, the Toby death was satisfying. He truly did this to himself and while it would have been nice to see him suffer on a bit more, I'm glad he's gone. I'm also really glad the baby was okay. I was kinda wondering if there would be a traumatic birth or something else there. Truly, the moment of him whispering in her shoulder, ugh so good. SO good. I think the ultimate showdown between Jim and Mac will be really good too. SO GOOD. Can't wait for more of this and your other fic too.

Author's Response:

Thank you so, so much! I have to admit, after having him cross the lines he crossed, his death was satisfying for me as well. I thought about making his birth more dramatic but poor Jim would be traumatized. :) Also, I wanted it to serve in contrast to the brutality of the death and their circumstances. Hope can be powerful and babies often symbolize that. 

Thank you again for all your comments!  

Ermergerd I got so excited to see this updated too. Honestly. And the ending this was FANTASTIC. I almost don't even know what I hope happens next. Complex feelings!! I want to feel bad for those kids but man, they really screwed everyone over and now put JAM in serious trouble. The end line of the chapter was so fantastic too. The whole scene of Pam being brought up and Jim seeing her, really really fantastic (not given what's happening but you know what I mean).

But I'm not sure what you mean by not making this go on forever, honestly I hope this doesn't end.

Author's Response: Complex feelings is exactly reaction I was hoping for! I am trying to portray the layers of complexity of a story like this and the ever-present question of the moral grey area. Thank you so much! 

Late to finally leave a review but I’m loving this story. Super interesting premise.

Really good, as always. Didn't want it to end. Writing and storytelling is so good. I love where you ended it too. Such a tease! I cannot wait for more of this and your other fic, as always!

Author's Response: Thank you so much Bayjb! I couldn't resist ending it with that line. ;)

I was so excited to see this updated. I love your fics. Such a great chapter too. Very old fashioned romantic and kinda hot with them at the boarding house. Really looking forward to more with them. It's so sweet.

Author's Response: Thanks! 'Old fashioned romantic and kinda hot' is one of my favorite things so I'm glad you like it! 

I wish I could describe how excited I was to see an update on this. And how many time I re-read the chapter once I got through it. I concur with another review that it's nice to see some representation of shell-shock and PTSD in the fic, even seeing how it's touched Jim a bit as well. Great intro to the family too, hope we'll see more of Larissa soon. But, of course, the ending and him finally saying those three words out loud was perfect. This was touched on in earlier chapters too that female pleasure during sex at this time period probably was non-existent and him referring to it as a "mythical" thing makes sense (and was a bit hilarious). So seeing them BOTH get something out of it and desire each other was excellent. Can't wait for more.

Author's Response: I'm so excited you are excited! Thank you so much for following this story and your wonderful reviews. :)