*evil grin* She has to meet him as an equal! Besides, he's got to be able to take what he dishes out!! Thanks so much for reading and for reviewing!!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Thanks so much, I'm really glad that you enjoyed it! I thought the awkwardness gave a touch of realism. My first time was certainly not perfect poetry!! LOL Glad you could empathize! Thanks so much for reading and for reviewing!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Thanks so much for reading! I'm sorry to see it end as well. I'm so gald you've enjoyed it. *hugs*Rhiannon

Thanks!*hugs*Rhiannon

Thank you so much! I'm so pleased that you've enjoyed it! =]  *hugs*Rhiannon

Beth, Thanks so much! You've  been such a fabulous support through all this! I'm so pleased you've enjoyed it. Thanks for all your reviews! *hugs*Rhiannon

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! *hugs*Rhiannon

Yes, the unbeatable antedote strikes again!Thanks so much for the review & for reading!!! *hugs*Rhiannon

I wanted to show that many times, in a 'happy' relationship, taking the other person's feelings for granted can be a death sentence. Things are going to be very hard for them. A very similar thing happened to a one of my best friends. I took the idea and used it. I think Severus and Hermione are meant to be, and head over heels in love. But love won't get you halfway in a relationship. Thanks for reading and reviewing!! I hope you'll stick with me. =]

I so sorry!!! I know I'm depressing everyone!! It will not be good, but I promise it will not end on a downer. Honest. thanks so much for your trust!!! You're too kind. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. Only three chapters left! The next one will go into queue tonight. We're almost there!*hugs* Rhiannon

I am sorry for your indecision. He is getting a look at another direction his life could have taken. His mistake here was assuming that just because everything looked better on the surface, everything was perfect. He's let slide many things he should have been more attentive to. I hope you'll stick with me, and keep reading. I know it's all muddled right now, but it WILL pay off. You will get answers and see a resolution. Thanks so much for taking time to review and for reading. Please keep reading. *hugs*Rhiannon

This is the best review I've ever gotten! Thanks so much!! I am going to address your questions, well some of them, because I'm afraid I've made it too hard to understand. I don't want anyone to give up on me. Here goes:

Severus stared at her in shock, painfully reminded of the afternoon they’d ‘discussed’ Harry’s impending birth. He moved cautiously away in case she was thinking he’d be up for a repeat performance.

What was the "performance" that Severus was recalling?  Did he and Lily have a short affair or a one-night-fling and she got pregnant?  Is Severus Harry's father?  I'm confused...Yes, this is to say that at one point (way pre-Hermione) just after Lily was pregnant w/ Harry, they did indeed hook up. James is Harry's father. “Lily, that’s wonderful. I know James will be thrilled. And Harry. Oh, Harry isn’t going to be happy with this, is he? It’s only going to underline the fact that all is not well in his family. Lily, how ever will you explain this? Do you think he can take it?”

Is James the father of the child Lily is carrying now?  Or did she have an affair with someone else?  Surely not Severus...? again?  I'm so confused...No, James is the father. Her upset feelings are due to the fact that Harry really wants to be a father himself, and she's feeling guilty b/c this is coming just on the heels of the affair Ginny had. Since Severus, she's only been w/ James. (Their one time fling was how he finally let her go!)Lily shook her head. “Why is it that no matter how much I love him, I wind up hurting him?” She buried her face in her hand, and Severus drew near and put an arm around her shoulders.

What is it that Lily keeps doing that she continues to hurt Harry?  Or was she talking about James?  I'm so very confused...Lily is hurting James b/c she's a bit of a 'love butterfly'. She goes where she can get attention. She loves James, but she's just one of those people who can't seem to stop fantasies about other people, eps. when James is busy w/ his career. James does realise that she's not as emotionally committed as he is, but it's not something he dwells on. “I’m here for you. No one has to know but the two of us, if that is what you wish. I want to be here for you. Don’t worry. Can’t you remember? Didn’t we always say that as long as the two of us were together, there was nothing to worry about?” Severus laughed as he stroked her back tenderly.

No one has to know what?  I'm as confused as I have ever been...

No one has to know how conflicted she really is, and also that she is pregnant again. She's not sure she wants to tell. Lily leaned into him, her voice becoming muffled as her face rested in his lap. “Severus. What did I ever do to deserve you?”

What the hell?  I'm so comfussed now that I can't even spell it...Lily is one of those overly touchy-feely types. She is smart enough to recognize that he's an amazing friend to her, putting up with all her emotional immaturities, and advances and not holding them against her. He chuckled and pulled her upright. “Now. No more talk of that. You must go and tell James. Think how pleased he’ll be. We’ll tell Harry. Talk to James. Perhaps Hermione should tell him. Sometimes I think they’re almost as close as the two of us.” In my world, the Snapes and the Potters have become like an extended family. James and Hermione have this competitive 'who knows more random crap' thing going on. They are both very committed to doing the right thing for their students, that's their closeness. Severus is offering to help tell Harry b/c of the emotional support he could provide them both. He's encouraging Lily to tell James about the baby, b/c he knows this is something James has wanted for ages. I hope I've answered appropriately. I'm soooo sorry I've confused you. Some of it is necessary for the type of story I've woven here, but I hate to send you into migraines!! So sorry for that! I hope this helps! I also hope you do stick with me. Thanks so much for reading and caring and for reviewing!! This helps me so much! *hugs & aspirin* Rhiannon

Yes, thank you!  For straightening out my confusion, and for the aspirin!  LOL!I wouldn't give up on this story for anything!  When the pennies drop, I want to be there!*hugs you back*

He does love her, but he's so overwhelmed by having a large group of people who care about him. So he's fouling it up by trying to be everything to everyone. Severus is screwing up also by taking it for granted that Hermione is totally secure and does not need reassurance. I hope you'll continue to read! Thanks so much  for reviewing!!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Harry and Ginny's problems are extremely mundane. She underestimated having to live in his shadow (even though he's only famous as a Quidditch player). She was also not equipped for the lifestyle in which one of the spouses travels for a living. She loved him, but she also really hated not having his attentions. Like it's easy to do, she let her imagination run away with her, and this led to the affair. Hermione is a rather similiar circumstance. She's always held a fear that Severus was still harbouring feeling for Lily. She's now got what she believes to be iron-clad proof. Next chapter should be up soon. The chapters 5 & 6 are about answers. Probably not the ones we'd all like... but this story really took off in its own direction. Not at all what I thought. I hope you'll like it. So there's my ridiculously long response! Thanks so much for reading and for reviewing!! *hugs*Rhiannon

I am sorry it's a bit mixed up right now, but things will become clearer very soon!!! I feel a disloyal as well, Lily was originally my favourite character (yes, I'm weird). I needed a villian, and she's done nicely. Thanks so much for reading and for reviewing!! =]  I hope you'll stick with me! *hugs*Rhiannon

Have no fear, I'm sticking. I'm just a little impatient. I can't wait to see what happens next... ;-)

Of course, with many thanks due to you, my dear!!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Well that's the thing with life, it's just messy. I really would love to write a 'happy ever-after' fic, but I'm just odd. I like drama. It will be alright though. They'll have some hard time, but all will be well in end!! Just stick with me...Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. *hugs*Rhiannon

Don't get me wrong, I love angst, it makes it that much better when they find their way back.  I hope he gives Hermione holy hell when he finds out and she has to work her a** off to get him back,  Keep it up!

I'm so glad you enjoyed the latest! Yes, the storm clouds are indeed rolling in. Severus is in for a rough time of things, but I can assure you that it will turn out alright in the end.  Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. The next chapter is in queue, hopefully it will be up soon! *hugs*Rhiannon

I'm so sorry that you are confused! It will confusing for a little while longer, but I promise it'll all make sense in the end. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. I hope you'll stick with me!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Thanks for trusting me, I really hope you'll like where I take this. It's going to make me sad to ruin his happiness, but that's the way it goes: no pain, no plot!!! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! *hugs*Rhiannon

I am really cruel, aren't I? Letting him get settled into his happy little life, and now I'm going to send it all to hell. But thus is the sadistic nature of the writer!! LOL Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! *hugs*Rhiannon

That's how he's going to look on it! thanks so much for reading and reviewing!! *hugs*Rhiannon

Beth, Thanks so much! It was a plot bunny that came to me one day a few weeks ago. I couldn't stop writing it. I'm so glad you're enjoying reading it!!!! Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews, I can't tell you how much they make me smile!! It will get bad for them, but if you stick with me, there will be a pay-off in the end. *hugs*Rhiannon