You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this. And it was more than worth the wait. As I've already told you, you did a bloody fantastic job on this chapter. And not just with the parts that have Kevin in them. You gave us a bit of the household dynamic, the fact that Alfie still isn't comfortable talking about Terry and Tony ever since the proposal. The fact that the family doesn't like Sedrick, that they still love Muri. That the kids, at least, still really miss having their big brother Terry around, and are more okay with Terry having a boyfriend.

Then there's the SYC event itself. We get peaks into the team dynamics, from Wilmer cancelling morning practices because Alfie would always sleep through them, to how Alfie acts alongside Scoonie and Gary Ridge. I won't lie, I'm curious about his relationship with the older, team captain Gerry Cross. Wilmer being all friendly and charming to all the young rats, an the fact that few of the ratlings remember that Zack was their Santa. They've been through a very rough couple of months, not remembering something like that, for ones so young having been through so much, just makes sense. Alfie's yelling at Brad, the fact that everyone had, at least a little, wanted to interact with the rat, and that afterwords, some of them wish they hadn't. Then when Zack brought up the invitation to the dinner, and Alfie's initial response compared to when Zack said that Terry and Tony would be there, just shows how he feels about the whole situation, even if he doesn't say it out loud. Also, brojangles is totally something Zack would say to Scoonie or anyone, and I love it. Random thought I just had, though. Scoonie may only be listening into the conversation from the side, but he does know who Kevin is.

And gosh, the photoshoot! With the adjustment I suggested, this entire scene is perfect. Alfie's unintentionally hilarious comment about Kevin only wanting to see them all in their skivvies, the fact that Alfie, while he did participate, did so like himself. But, even so, he was more accommodating than he was when Muri tried to get him to get photos taken. He's changed, even if only a little. And then Zack talking to Terry and Tony! They were okay with it, and then Zack mentioned Alfie . . . and terry instantly became apprehensive. And then we see something we might not have expected. Tony, being assertive. Stating clearly that they would be at that dinner, that they would be there, no matter if Alfie showed up or not, and if Alfie had a problem with them, they would handle it. It's . . . nice to see Tony be a bit more confident, a bit more assertive.

And then the dinner. Dear lord how I have been waiting for this scene. And you captured it beyond wonderfully. Every little detail of how you wrote Kevin is spot on. From him calling Zack's smile charming, to how you can tell that he's nervous and stumbling over words, to him thanking people for coming. He even got comfortable enough at the table to make a joke about Alfie modeling again. That takes a lot of good work to get him that comfortable, with with Zack, and Tony, and the rats being civil, I can see it happening. The little chat about clothes and fashion, something Kevin enjoys but has never been able to get into OR afford. Then, his speech to Tony. The fact that he starts out slow, stopping after mentioning hiding until Tony manages to get him to respond by saying the word again. I knew that this would be a turning point for Kevin, at the very least, but I didn't know how it would effect any of the other players in the scene. But now the reactions are there. It gives Tony confidence that he made the right decision, and given how the last few weeks must have been, ever since their trip to the bar, I can only imagine that as a good thing. And then Terry tries to respond, and just doesn't know what to say. Kevin telling him not to worry, that he could always say what he wanted when he and Tony met on the court, well, that's a very Kevin thing to do, trying to put somebody at ease.

Of course, then Alfie ruins the moment, and Kevin enters into apology mode, saying sorry . . . 3 times for the same thing. But what came after was the lovely thing. The fact that the rest of the rats in attendance . . . LIKED what Kevin did. Well, at least Monica did. Olivia at the very least wasn't disapproving of what Monica said. Grammory was quiet, but, well, that's not unusual for one of them. But Graham did say not to let Alfie ruin the evening, so one has to assume they are at least neutral on the subject. A side effect, maybe, of the fact that they now know they have a gay brother, and they still want him to be a part of the family. That kind of thing can change perspectives, at least in younger family members. Either way, we are left with a Tony that has some more confidence, a Terry that at the very least appreciates the gesture Kevin made, Zack, who is Zack, and Kevin, who now has a bit more confidence, a friendship made with Tony and perhaps Terry, and the courage to do what he needed to do after the event.

Of course, this would lead to things like Kevin's coming out to his parents, being a bit more forward in his feelings and opinions, and eventually moving into Tony's old apartment in Winnipeg.

Now I can only imagine Alfie's mental thought process when he realizes during Kevin's speech that the joke he made earlier that day baout Kevin just wanting to see them all in the skivvies could possibly have been true... *angry rat*

Damn fine work, Shane, damn fine work.

Thank you, sah, and thank you for working with me on it!

A lot of fun stuff in this. Charlotte-LOL! Mama Norwich don't like nobody! Darby-Sheesh, why didn't she just cram her tongue into Alfie's ear while she was at it? All done for Wilmer's benefit, I'm sure. Teenagers! Scoonie'll have to sign a Mista Scoons plushie for Natalie, lol. Or maybe she'll steal Alfie's. Zack the bottomless pit! Love to see him do one of those hot-dog eating contests. Hmm, maybe that could be something the league could do for charity. Very nice gesture by Kevin! And Alfie is certainly growing up a bit, in as much as he kept his anger under control for the most part, and actually had a bit of fun. And props for Monica for speaking up! Liked the bit about Liv trying to quickly tidy up when she met the guys, good detail to work in. FUNNESS!

World definitely needs more Mista Scoons plushies. XD

I think...I think this has become one of my favorite stories from you Shane. I loved how the family got to a good time out in Hawaii. They got to see new things, meet new (and old) people, and I bet, like the beach photo, they had a good time. Also, I CAN'T stop reading the bit with Alfie and Darby. I love it, I love everything about it.

I'm really glad that we get to see more of the lil Norwichs and Olivia. She's adapted quite well in a new place. Wilmer, awesome as usual. Zack's like "EAT ALL THE FOOD!" He's like, my hero. I really wanna be able to consume and adapt like him someday, he is the ultimate xenomorph!


Kevin. Kevin, Kevin, Kevin...I already, and still do love that pangolin, what more should I say? It's really good to see that he's been able to live out both of his passions through basketball, and who knows, maybe Zack's suggestion isn't such a bad idea. Zack ideas are usually pretty good one's so long as they don't involve anything with wheels. Tony and Terry where his courage, and he managed to use their courage as inspiration and fortitude to be more comfortable with himself.

And Alfie...well, I won't lie, I've been quite the fan of Alphonse, and I still am. Terry/Tony situation aside, he has made changes, pretty major ones at that. He moved to the states, showed his stuff, had a few slip-ups and bounced back from most of them, he's accepted Sedrick (granted, he may still not trust him much), he's had the family's best wishes at heart, and he's managed to get them all out of the house for something that would be fun for all of them, and for the most part, it was. They had fun. Now, there may have been some 'ugliness' when it comes to personal belief, but one can't forget that Alphonse was willing to accept Terrence so long as he lived quietly. Terrence was okay with that, but he was also a bit put off by it, this is still all very new to him. Tony however, was done hiding, he was done letting other's dictate what and how he wanted to live, and he was going to show Terrance that he loved him. And if Alphonse had a problem with that, then so be it.

I truly believe that Alphonse loves Terrance, and that he will eventually accept their relationship, it's just going to take a bit of time and effort. But hey, Muri herself has proven that when it comes to the Norwich's...a little time and effort, will go a long way.


Once again, beautiful work Pacbug and Rufus, you too Kings, but you knew that already

This comment put a big smile on my face. Damn glad to see that you liked this one. It was a lot of interesting work putting it all together, glad you enjoyed!

I spent the entire dinner scene waiting for the other shoe to drop.

And it was a HUGE relief when it pretty much amounted to nothing worse than Alfie being a grump. XD

Alfie is the worst kinda grump. |:C

True, but it's nice to see that he didn't COMPLETELY ruin the evening, for once. XD

I see Zack and I do the buffet the same way