"When she can’t quite remember what she’s holding onto, she looks at his arms around her and feels a tightening around her waist, and she holds onto that. When he can’t see what his eyes are fixed on, he looks at the way her eyes capture his, and his vision clears. And when they both wake from a dream that’s too good to be true and the loneliness threatens to overwhelm, they look at the grins and small smiles slip back onto both their faces to sustain them until the next phone call, the next visit, the next embrace.
It’s all there, laid out in vibrant, brilliant color, the stuff that makes the dreams come to life after their eyes open."
This is such a lovely ending, full of hope and possibility, a reminder of the relationship they have, and a declaration that they'll get through it. Sometimes, love is enough; it's supposed to conquer all, and here, it does.
Thank you for this story. I'm so very glad you got my prompt! (Is there a possibility of another ficathon this summer?)
Alida, I am so sorry it has taken me a ridiculous length of time to review this story, because I love it so much. I'm so glad you decided to do this in-depth look at the fallout from Logan's accident and how it affected Rory and Logan's relationship.
Thanks for including "Hard to Concentrate" lyrics! Yay!
I love the background to this story: Logan extending the lease on the apartment, Rory's attitude towards Mitchum...all things we see in Partings.
“Awww, should we play a game to help pass the time? I spy? I’ll start. I spy with my little eye something that is… pouty.”
Hee. I love Rory and Logan's banter here.
“The entire purpose? And you wouldn’t be able to keep from having ‘fun’–especially not when I’m driving the Porsche. You’re just dying to reclaim your manliness somehow, since you can’t drive your fancy car.”/“I’ll miss this.”/“Don’t say it like that. You make it sound like I’m never going to see you again.”
I can *see* this so clearly: the expression on Rory's face when Logan says 'I'll miss this' - you do a great job here.
"Her hair falls across his chest, soft, smelling like citrus, and he clings to her, even in her sleep, even when she shifts, unwilling to let her go. This will have to carry him through for a long time–this will be the last memory, the most vivid."
The longing and love here is so palpable that it hurts, a little.
"and it reminds her of the nights that she spent sitting beside the bed, trying to reconcile this damaged, bruised, fragile body with the fearless, adventurous boy that she loved. Loves, she amends, a quiet smile filling her chest."
Sweet and true and aww.
"His bittersweet smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “We match.”/Tears fill her eyes, soaking into his bare skin as she tips her head up until their eyes meet, her fingers still tapping the steady rhythm of their heart. “Of course we do.”"
I just...that's so beautiful and *right* and, really, RoryandLogan. That's them, right there; you captured it perfectly.
Thank you.
And what a poetic, beautiful ending that was. Open and hopeful...
Author's Response: Thanks!
Oh, my, that just ended beautifully. I've been so bad about reviewing this. You did such a wonderful job, the growth, forgiveness and emotional depth you've written is just lovely. You did a fantastic job, so well done.
This does remind me I need to buckle down and get my last part written and write some bitchy emails to the writers that still haven't turned in stories. Grrr.
Author's Response: Thank you! I just had a guilt trip moment thinking that you were waiting on me to post the end of your story, and then I realized that no, you're not, and I didn't feel so bad after all!
I love your description of the photo, I could totally picture it in my minds eye. For both to come to the realization what each means to the other to have the picture to anchor them to each other, to know that they will get through whatever life throws at them...together. Well done.
Author's Response: I'm glad you could see it--it was interesting to picture it as I was writing, trying to convey what my mind was seeing, and wishing I actually had the picture to look at!
That my friend was very beautiful. Lying in each other's arms feeling each other's heartbeat. How even in sleep they have to hold each other , injuries be damned, because this will have to sustain them.
Fulfilled, your writing is so precisely beautiful, I feel like I'm watching this scene unfold in my mind's eye, in slow-motion. And you are able to convey all the layers of emotions in Rory and Logan just by describing their behaviors: their desperation and frustration, anger, sadness, love. :-)
Nicely done. You can feel Rory's hurt, anger how she can't stand still. How Logan feels powerless. How all he can do is watch her until she collapses and then soothe her.
i thought that was really good its been a while scince iv last read a good fic, umm just one suggestion dont put what shes thinking in brakets .But thats it ,its relly good .
Oh. My. God. This was beautiful, I have no other words. So bittersweet and loving and just so beautiful...
I have to be honest with you ... This is one of the best fic's I've ever read! Really! It's beautiful.
You did a great job!
I love it!
Marije
great story --- it filled a lot of gaps for me and made me really love this couple even more (as if that's possible)
So finally, she voices out her love and need for him. I can feel it--they're getting there, beyond the pain and fear and guilt, picking up the pieces. I appreciate the slow and gentle pace with which you're doing this.
I've been very bad and haven't left a review. I so adore this. And I absolutely love her talking through some of this with Lane, even if she's really talking through it in her head. The conversation is spurring her thinking.
The final imagery of this chapter, so much love.