Young lady I'm crying. I'm still crying from this :

"I hoped- god, I wanted to be wrong," She said. "I didn't want to believe that he would- that he would- Jarod, he was in the tower, he was watching when-" She fell silent, exhaled, inhaled. "I- I'm tired."

"I know," Jarod said softly. He lay beside her, slipped his arms around her and gathered her in his arms. Jarod imagined that she was, indeed, exhausted. One woman versus an entire sea of tears. He wasn't sure why she even bothered, especially when choking back her emotions took such a physical toll on her.

"No," She said. "It's all right." And Jarod felt that those words were entirely for her benefit, that she was trying to convince herself. She couldn't have possibly been speaking to him. He knew better.

Jarod blanketed her with his body and he pressed his lips to her forehead and poured out more affection to her in a single second than Mr. Parker had in his entire life. And then, Jarod whispered, "I am so sorry that he hurt you", and his voice wavered when he spoke- his voice wavered because his heart was aching for her and he loved her with all of it.

Parker held her breath when Jarod spoke, not because of his words, but because of his voice- it disrupted her concentration, brought the universe to a halt. She didn't exhale, not for several moments. She felt her composure slipping. She buried her face in Jarod's chest, released the breath.

And the tears."

I feel that. It's when you try to hold it back and not cry and just can't anymore...and Jarod is comforting so much here and poor Parker. I love this. I love how much emotion is revealed and that pain finally revealing itself. I cried so much when I first read it and it still hits me the same every single time. I just weep like a little bitchy crybaby. You DID this. I love you anyway tho lol.

Ohhh and this: "

"I have to take care of some unfinished business."

"Unfinished business," He said incredulously and then turned and retreated to the back porch.

"Yeah," She said, walking briskly to catch up to him. "You know, I was once strongly advised to never underestimate the importance of unfinished business."

"That guy didn't know what the hell he was talking about," Jarod said.

"Yes, you did," She disagreed softly. "I'll be gone for a month.""

Jarod's the one who told her not to underestimate the importance of unfinished business and I love you for not just the brilliant plotting and dialog and characterisations but the consistency and continuity.

The way you ended-not really ended it beautiful powerful perfect I love it.

"

So, what now," Jarod asked softly.

"It's getting late."

"It is," Jarod agreed.

"And," She sang, a rather provocative smile playing at her lips. "We have the entire house all to ourselves."

"Why, Miss Parker," Jarod gasped in mock trepidation, as if he'd been absolutely scandalized by her proposition. "Are you suggesting that we sleep here tonight? Alone?"

Parker rose, propped her hands on her hips. "Who said anything about sleeping?" She smiled wickedly. "Follow me upstairs, Agent, and I'll show you what I'm suggesting," She purred, and then pivoted.

Jarod grasped her hand, twirled her around to face him.

"We have the entire house," He murmured against her lips.

"Oh," She exclaimed, pressing herself against him when his arms circled her waist. "Why, Agent Spence," she exclaimed, "are you suggesting that we-"

"I suggest," Jarod interrupted softly. "We. Start," he murmured between kisses. "Right. Here." He hoisted her up into his arms. "And it's Jarod," he admonished playfully.

"Oh? Mm well, when I'm done with you, Jarod, you'll be answering to any name I choose to give you."

This ending... I love.

""Mhm," Jarod said with a guttural murmur, "we'll see about that."

"You're damn right you will."



Life, indeed, goes on."

I NEED MORE.

It can't be over.

I scream this every time I read this.

MORE!

"

This sums it all up: "Jarod did nothing in half measures, he aimed to satisfy every time- and as Parker discovered, the man's aim was perfect. "

I mean... damn skippy!

And this:

"It's beautiful- like you. It suits you."

"You wouldn't just say that to get in my pants, would you, Jarod?"

"You're not wearing pants," He said

"
Brilliants!

Squee! I know what happens next and I'm already aroused!!!

Shit shit shit shit it's so scary and arousing when Jarod plays hard ball. he's so hot. HAWwwt. Michael. It's because I see and hear Michael T. Weiss when I read your Jarod. Damn baby. I mean ... damn.

I need to roll around in some snow now. My god. Jesus Jesus Jesus lord Jesus!

You are the best .

I read this, was so immersed that I clicked next, so I went back... and then I read it all again and clicked next again.. it goes without saying that I'm addicted and can't stop reading.;

Oh, Tempest is delish! I love that scene. I love Jarod's rage. He's so pissed about what happened to Parker already and just can't even.. this is what I alwasy wanted to see happened on the DVDS and finally I can SEE it. Thank you thank you bunches.

Phhhheeewww! I love it. I love the parallels. The bad guys were unmasked by Jarod. Miss Parker was umasked too.  I see what you did there. I love this. It's so action packed. I love the tension that I'm used to seeing on the series. Jarod and Miss Parker are just one of those ships. Some crazy tension . It's almost too much watching the DVDs and you capture that brilliantly. It's like watching the DVDS again. So awesome you. You're fantastic.

She is so bad ass ... believably bad ass. You write it without overdoing . I never want to leave this pretendverse.

OH MY GOD !

I'm just hanging on every word. You always yank me in .

I'm loving me some Janeane. Are you Janeane? or Celeste? I love all your original characters!

Gotta say I'm glad you didn't scrape this. Don't scrap your stories. Share them with us. This one is all boom and begins with action and the action continues. I wish I had time to read it all in one sitting.

This is the best and most all-ecompassing, answers-all-questions, plausible, well written, in-character Pretender stories I've read to date and the first I've read authored by you. My favorite part is that you didn't change their personalities to fit the narrative. They can be together and still be who they are and still wasn't a happily ever after thank GOD because they are so trite. No one can be happy forever. They can have sex and a relationship and not be married. Any chance of a sequel to how the pair are doing?