The brother really has some issues. D:

^ This.

I think I can see where this is going.....

Hmm, his obsession and poor self esteem make him suspicious of everyone when he somehow manages to get her.

Not what I'm thinking...but good notion. :3

Poor fellow. :c

I've never been attracted to someone. But man do I know what's it like to consider yourself the least useful person on the planet.

I definitely feel like the other brother... I'm nowhere near confident enough in myself to think I could love someone as well as they deserve.

But you found me, so I think that statement is a bit false.

Yes, but you're not a girl, sweetie.

Good point, but I still love you silly.

Always remembering, of course, who's telling this story...

Ahhh, but who IS telling the story, Gem's Father, Zeezee's father, or whom? This person has said that he's NOT Gem's father, so who is he?
Gemma, earlier, saw 'Uncle Souffle' as Zeezee's and Rasile's father, but now we have twins in the picture, so was it Souffle, or this person.

Star is weaving and elegant tapestry here, as good as any Tom Clancy novel, and I'm really excited each time a new page comes out. Edge of your chair anticipation.

So, again, WHO Is telling the story to Gem?

No wonder the guy ended up so unkind; he lost his chance of finding true happiness in love and life. But I doubt he is all bad. Surely he does still care about Gem in some way or another, if not wholeheartedly. *spoiler warning* Like Professor Snape cares about Harry Potter despite his dislike of Harry's father, James. Snape loves Harry's mother, Lilly, and because of her, Snape promised to protect Harry. *end of spoiler* So there must be something similar going on here.

There's no guarantee we're hearing the timid brother reading the story! The way I see it happening, the timid brother wows her with a portrait leading to the confident brother's scorn. If this is the case it's not impossible the timid brother is Gem's father which explains why he despises her so. She represents everything he lost.

Or the timid brother wins her love, but because of his self-esteem problems, he starts to have doubts as to whether she really loves him. And when he begins suspecting her of cheating on him, the confident brother becomes his prime suspect.

oooh this is interesting now.

hmmm watching someone in there sleep. that is not creepy at all right Edward Cullen?

In all fairness Agent Coulson did it too ;)

i feel bad about him..... no confidence....

I'm wondering how he ended up with her if the other one was more charismatic and out going. I'm still wondering how a Red Pansa and a fox made squirrel babies...

Having been on the loser's side of this coin, I think I just got punched in the feels D:

I have a guess where this will go. Though some of the past pages make a lot more sense now.

Something tells me that the brother has to many issues

The other brother is the one who is neglecting himself. How can he know she won't love him back, if he doesn't try to woo her?

Gem's daddy needs a visit from a super hero to bop him good. how dare he traumatize poor Gem.

Darth Vader Syndrome? Well, not really, I guess.

However, he's not pathetic and worthless. How could he be? He's the same as his brother, he's intelligent, active, as attractive as his brother, and would be the same kind of catch to any woman.

I know all too well what he's thinking, though. I know the feeling, I understand the pain, for all too long. I wish I could reach out to him and tell him the wonderful things about him, and help him.

Star, I wonder how many people here will relate to this on a personal level and will feel sorrow for this brother, who will identify with this brother, and say 'Yeah, that's just like me.'

In the end of this story, I hope that somehow he is redeemed, that he learns the good truth about himself, just as Gem is learning about herself.

Thanks for the update. It's a great story.

This page hits me in the feels! ;_;
I tend to think like that too =c
I also thought like that about Sila once x.x;

Awww *hugs*

Oh man. I've been there!

Yeah It is always good to go for the once

Two trains rushing towards an inevitable conclusion.... I see two possibilities.

A. Shy brother reveals or has his true feelings revealed. They get married, and extroverted brother resents his little brother taking what he subconsciously thinks should be his.

B. Outgoing brother wins her and the unrequited or unnoticed feelings of shy brother cause him to hate the symbol of their love, Gem.

Which will it be?

Or C. Grub is revealed to be the mastermind behind all of this, and Gem is plugged into a massive computer designed to understand the construct of 'childhood'.