Brian at age 6 moved me unlike any other story has. So sad and touching and we know how much worse it gets for him. This crossed into real life for so many.

Author's Response:

Thank you. It was a sad one-shot to write. I hope it didn't upset too many people but I wanted it to stay realistic. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

This is the second time this week that you have made me cry, but it's okay - I asked for it this time... but omg, this was perfection. This was EXACTLY the sort of thing I was wanting to read. And what's funny is I don't usually like stories when they're kids, but with Brian, I think it really helps us understand him and you did this so amazingly here. I wanted to cuddle little Brian so much throughout the entire story, but even more so I wanted to punch Jack in the face. How can a man be so selfish and unloving towards his very own flesh and blood :/

I was so happy for Brian for that short time he was at the baseball game with Jack and was happy. It's like he got that little glimpse into what other kids experience and I dunno, that made it even sadder for me.

I love how you slipped things in, such as Jack's thoughts on monogamy, that was an interesting twist. It just shows how things you learn as kids can stay with you for life. And it also explains why he finds it so hard to believe people love or care for him once he'd older :(

I seriously loved this so so so so so much - maybe I can convince you to change it from complete to incomplete ;)

Author's Response:

I'm glad you liked the story, Sally! I haven't really read any stories where they are kids, except for one with Justin and Daphne. I think with Brian it does help give insight on why he is the way that he is. Feel free to cuddle Brian all you want. And punch Jack in the face. Punch Father Donovan too, while you're at it. ;)

I had to give Brian that special afternoon. It made the angst afterward much more upsetting and you know I love writing angst. ;)

I think since Jack regretted entering a marriage and that the marriage between Jack and Joan was so violent and tainted, it really scared Brian from forming a meaningful relationship until Justin and even then, it took him a while. Brian definitely had a lot of insecurities when it came to whether or not people cared about him. 

Maybe you can convince me lol. But if you want more Intersect then you might just have to wait! ;) Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Being a child who grew up listeneing to my father slap around my mother when he was drunk, this story was very spot on the way Brian's though process was at 6 yrs old.  You become very disillusioned with security of your life. I was also bought up in a Catholic household but not as stringent in the belief (mother coverted from Lurtheran).

I applauded you on your writing style.  Keep going!!

Sandy

 

Author's Response:

I'm glad you liked it, Sandy! I hope it didn't bring back too many bad memories for you. I feel like Brian did become very disillusioned and that shaped him into the person he became. Good when it came down to it, but he had many demons as well as problems with showing love and affection. It had to have been hard for them. My father's Catholic. It's strange because he grew up Catholic, then converted to non-denominational, only to go back to Catholic. I'm not sure of his experience other than hating the nuns at his Catholic school. My mother's friend was excommunicated from her Catholic church since she divorced her alcoholic and abusive husband through so I guess, depending on the priest's views and how stern he is with them, it does happen. Thank you for the kind review!

You never cease to amaze me with your ideas and your writing. This one was great, Anne. I can totally see Brian's family like that. I also can see Joan questioning her mariage only to have the priest pushing her to stay with Jack. And Then, it's easy to imagine her evolution and the fact that she become narrow minded regarding what is acceptable, as it's her only way to survive her mariage. Brian is so adorable... 6 years old, it' s one year older than my own son. I want to hug him LOL. Thank you for this little but poignant story :)

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for reading this one, Alois! It was definitely different. I almost felt like I wasn't writing a QAF fic because Brian was so young and innocent at this point. It felt like a different character. But I guess if my six year old self walked into the room, I wouldn't feel like I was meeting myself. People change immensely and I think Brian was very affected by his upbringing. I also think Joan did care about her children but was so blinded by her religion that she felt shame everytime she thought about the necessary steps that would be needed to keep them out of harm's way. She turned to her church and God and, when things got worse and worse, she convinced herself more and more that this was her place as Jack's wife and took the Bible too literally. Hug little Brian all you want. Hell, adopt him lol. Thank you for reading and reviewing, Alois! It means a lot!