Oh I’m so glad for a happy ending, I really am. Even though I didn’t think it was possible and a lot of times didn’t think it was right!

I’ve never ever NOT wanted Bennoda to happen until now! Such conflicting feelings to what Mike was doing was so wrong, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions! I’ve really enjoyed this Chester’s character and his ability to reach Otis and help is so lovely (wanting to become a ‘Dave’ was such a nice touch at the end).

The last few chapters were really mature and it had to go that way, I’m so glad that Mike had the conversation with Brad and was able to help him understand things to make the right decision.

But I’m soooooo glad they got back together! I just love a happy ending.

Amazing story.! Really really love the ending! I couldn't even think of a happy ending for them but you made it work. You put your magic and the ending couldn't have been better ! Love you keep up the good work!!

I really enjoyed reading this- it gave me massive OC vibes at the beginning even though the story is completely different and so felt oddly nostalgic. Absolutely loved Chester’s character throughout and Mike always being sensitive to not taking advantage of him. Definitely pushed the boundaries in terms of their age difference and Chester being so young, but I think that made a difference to the story.

Would be really cool to read a part going way into the future to see where they are at and how Otis is with Chester once he’s older, would be interesting to see how their relationship develops and also the changes in Mike and Chester’s relationship when he does get into his twenties.

I enjoyed the last two chapters so so much...

I loved how you resolved this. I'm so so glad that both Chester and Mike grew so much and took care of themselves first before getting back together. I think that's so important for them to build something lasting... Both of them were just thirsting to love and be loved but recognised the need to give each other that space to do so on their own terms.

I hope Chester gets to achieve the things he wants to and I'm sure he will cos he's heading the right way. And hes so so lucky to now have a family that loves him and supports him. It must be fantastic for him to have someone as caring as Mike after so long with his mom.

It's great that he cares so much about Otis as well... And I love that rob turned out to be ok and Anna is happy as well! I think she deserves it too..

As for Mike I'm so proud of him for breaking of the prison he built himself after so long and that he continues to be such a great dad. He seems to be a gentle person and I'm glad he found someone he could love and take care of and be loved in return❤️❤️

I have to say writing this review is making me emotional and sad we won't see more of them...I read this whole thing in a constant state of stress that I didn't really enjoy them together so now I feel like I want to see more

That was another fantastic story you wrote, I really enjoyed it a lot. Thanks ❤.

Oh my God, I love this ending so, so much <33

I'm so incredibly happy they ended up together after everything. I was really worried for a moment that you're going to separate them forever and break my Bennoda loving heart ;) It's so satisfying to know that Chester realised he loves Mike, as well. The age difference between them is huge, but it looks like neither cares about it now and oh god my heart <3

And Chester fits in so well with Mike and Otis. They're like real family at some point, and it really makes me happy. I'm sure I'll be coming back to this story not once, just like I do with most of your works :)

Thank you for writing something like this! I never knew I needed such a family drama before this story, lol. I hope to see more of your work in the future! :)

Well, I am really sad this one is over. I have been all over the place with this story, it has felt like a guilty pleasure most of the time with the whole struggle over *what’s morally right* vs. what I want to have happen.

I’m so happy they ended up together and nobody went to jail. For many, MANY chapters, I wasn’t sure either of those things would happen the way I wanted. But, I should know to trust you by now. You always get there. <3 It’s impressive. And along the way you give me scenes that stick in my head and I have to read again and again.

So, I wondered, would this knock Devil Ches down a notch in my ranking? Truth is, I can’t decide. Between Devil Ches, Attorney Mike, and Dark Mike, I love all three of those stories equally I think. Though As You Wish is literally a perfect story. I think of that the way I think of Untouchable. It’s perfectly concise and just well done. Sorry, I’m off topic, and narcissistically talking about myself. But I really, really love this story for all the things you pulled off that I just am awed by. The fact that you literally wrote a story with this age gap and socioeconomic gap, and the whole underage/person in authority thing, and it never felt forced, creepy, or fake, is amazing to me. I don’t know anyone else that could pull it off with that level of mastery.

I looooovvveeee them waking up, and knowing that they do this every day. I giggled when Mike told Chester he ruined the sexy dream. :) I think it’s cute that there’s still a gap there, the educated vs. not-as-educated thing with pronouncing words, and yet they accept that from each other. They accept each other completely. It made my heart happy. I love the difference in their sides of the closet, and especially Mike’s thoughts about Chester’s shoes and how he’s not greedy with Mike’s money, even though Mike would give him the world. I love Mike’s attachment to Chester’s pearls. I love Mike being a short-order cook in his own home, haha. I love Otis learning poker from Chester, and the fact that Mike isn’t afraid to take Chester out in public. I love that they are sort-of coparenting with Anna and Rob, but we all know that Chester is the real reason Otis will go in the ocean. It’s all wrapped up nicely, though I admit I was thinking the epilogue would be farther into the future. I just love it all. And so, I will do what I do every time you end a story - I’m going to wake up tomorrow, make coffee, and lay in bed and read it start to finish to enjoy every bit of it, knowing nothing bad can happen! Haha!!! Congratulations on finishing another wonderful story my friend. <3

This is the end that I hoped so much for <3 I suffered in silence in these last chapters, hoping for them to find a way to get back together and when Chaz finally realized that he is a n love with Mike I almost screamed, I swear….

This chapter is pure perfection, Otis’s silence, Mike thinking about Chaz while watching the painting and than all happened <3

Mike’s fear of loosing again Chaz is so painful and their love so powerful and real, Mike has right, is Chester that has to lead their boat, now he is so mature and knows exactly what he wants…. Mike, Otis and their life together <3

Standing ovation for Brad that in the end helped them <3

Now I’m so curious to read the epilogue and how their life will goes <3

Thank u so much for this trip in so deep and strong emotions , I loved so much this story in every aspects <3 Love u

FINALLY.

I know there’s a lot to say about this chapter, but all I can think is FINALLY all those I love you’s get returned. I was so excited for both of them, but especially for Mike because he’s been waiting to hear that sentiment returned for so long. <3

Okay, let’s back up. You get a list tonight.

1. The beginning of this chapter still felt so hopeless to me, and I was reading and thinking, “she’s really going to keep them apart” and I was so mad at you lol. I love Otis’s independence, though, and I know a lot of that has to do with Chester, but also being aways from Anna being so overbearing. Good for Otis for doing things on his own! I totally sympathized with Mike about the calls from school, though. Ugh. No fun. And it’s not fun to worry about it constantly, either.

2. I knew Mike would have that painting, I called it a long ass time ago, but it made my eyes tear up when Mike was looking at it and talking to Chester in his head. It was a hit to my heart, just like Otis’s black fingernails. I was feeling so sad for them both, missing Chester so much!!!

3. I wasn’t even expecting Chester at the door, by the way. I was totally unprepared. I was reading and nobody said anything and I was like SAY SOMETHING and then by the time Chester asked if he was too late I was just a mess. I love that Mike has all the questions and doesn’t ask a single one, lol. It’s just kisses and that’s perfect.

4. The first I love you, and how easily and quickly Mike returned it. I’m literally sobbing at this point. I love them kissing and then I had to laugh at how they were headed straight to the bedroom, totally fitting for the two of them. It was like they hadn’t missed a moment together, and I really loved that. All of their reactions to each other were just like they were months ago. <3

5. The bed, omg. I’m so sentimental. I was so happy Mike took their bed! <3

6. The fact neither of them had slept with anyone else - ahh, love, love, love.

7. The moment Chester said “let’s make love” I knew Mike was done for, lol. That was all he wanted to hear come out of Chester’s mouth for so long. <3 Ugh, it was really good. They’re *in love* and both of them finally know it, so I’m satisfied. You can just end the story here, lol.

8. I love how Mike starts to think rationally again the second the lovemaking is over, lol. So Attorney Mike. Now, I have to admit that when Chester wasn’t answering his questions, I did something I’ve never done before with your stories. I skimmed to the end to make sure something bad wasn’t going to happen. I’m the worst. But with every dodged question I was so uneasy. Don’t worry, I went back and read the whole thing carefully... four times… before I wrote this. :)

9. My favorite line is this: “I love you,” he whispered, kissing right over top of it with as much reverence as a priest kissing a Rosary. ← The imagery created there is on pointe.

10. I love that Mike followed through on all of what he wanted when he left Anna, even if Chester wasn’t there with him. It was nice to follow them through the condo and ‘see’ how Mike had done up the space, and even better to have him sharing it with Chester.

11. Oh, another perfect line: “Wherever Chester went, he would go.” *melts*

12. It takes Mike so long to be the rational adult lawyer he’s supposed to be, and the sense of dread that built up in me was unreal. So thank goodness it didn’t go on too much longer. (Side note, I loved the coffee being the coffee they picked out together.) Mike’s jumping to conclusions and trying to ‘fix’ things is almost comical. I really enjoyed watching Chester put Mike in his place, and showing him that he can figure things out and take care of himself. It’s what Mike needs, anyway. He doesn't need someone else to take care of, he needs a partner. Chester’s whole plan is perfect. I’m glad he finally figured it out!! I was miserable for both of them.

13. I LOVE what Chester wants to do with his life. How sweet is that? Both Mike and Chester gained a lot from knowing each other. Mike is free and can live his life the way he wants to, and Chester has figured out his life path. It’s really perfect.

14. BRAD. What a fucking great friend. That’s all. I love Brad.

Ugh. I am utterly satisfied with this, and for the first time will not beg for the next chapter because I don’t want it to end.

Ok....

It's great that Mike's moving forward.. Making those changes he needed to... He's hurting so much still... And it doesn't seem to be less intense even tho it's been some months...

Well, if Ryan didn’t know about Chester’s relationship before English class, he knows now.I’d love to see the aftermath of that.

What a mess. This chapter wasn’t as hard for me as the last chapter. The breakup was way worse than this. I kinda expected us to be in the future a little, but not months. The fact that Mike is already moved out and the divorce is over is a relief, even if I wasn’t really expecting it. I am curious about Talinda, though. She’s a stable part of Otis’s life, so to lose her, and his house, mom, and Chester, seems like too much at once. So I hope that we will still see her, even if Mike is on the east side now. I’m a little curious about Anna, too, if she kept the house, if Mike is having to pay for it, if Bourdie just moved right in… would like to know, since we are close to the end.

Mike leaving the firm was to be expected, too, and it wasn’t as hard for me as I thought. Brad is a good friend, but I do get the feeling that he tries to be empathetic but doesn’t *really* understand how Mike feels. (I did not miss the WFTE reference, I loved that. Favorite song ever. And truly so perfect for this story. It could be the theme song of the whole second part of this.) I did get teary over the phone and the video, though. And knowing that Chester meant to take the phone with him, and changed his mind at the last minute, that hurt. Having walked away from being in love before, I can relate to how Mike feels. How gut-wrenching it is to hear Chester’s voice and see him. It’s terrible. And it’s been months, which makes it more awful. I just want to hug him and tell him Chester misses him, too. :(

And Chester… it was jarring to see him in the school environment. Despite being sixteen, I hadn’t thought at all about him being in school. That was hard to read, but I was glad that Ryan has been placed back in friend only status. I don’t think I could have handled it if they’d gone back to being boyfriends… the idea of them having sex and Chester thinking about Mike was too much for my Bennoda heart. I’m glad that’s not happening. Poor Chester, in class, which means nothing to him, thinking about Mike. Having that photo is just heartbreaking. I love that it’s not just a photo of Mike, but Mike and Otis. The three of them were really special together, and I’m glad Chester is realizing that, even if it takes a line from a poem smacking him in the face to understand.

So, to sum it up… Chester is depressed. Mike is depressed. I’m sure Otis is struggling, too. Can you just let them get back together, please? (And then write me a really great reunion sex scene with all the returned I love yous??)

I am crying. That's it. That's the review.

No but seriously, I knew some depressing moment would come at some point, but I didn't expect it to hit me this bad, I read it as soon as you uploaded it and I'm still not over it xD but I think that's a good thing since you can wake up such strong emotions in me with your writing <3

The whole chapter was... Well, I hated it. I mean, I really loved it but hated it at the same time, you know? It's complicated xD as others said, Otis' goodbye and his "you are home" just totally broke me. And the fact Chaz didn't keep his phone </3 poor Mike, he's going through so much right now. With my love to happy endings, it was so depressing to read this chapter. I mean I know there's gonna be a few more chapters to go but still, this one was just, it left me quite speechless (that's why it took me so long to write this review, lol).

I still hold on to some hope that they ARE going to end up together, that Chester understands his feelings and finally says he loves Mike back, because I'm sure he does, but is too lost and confused now to see it. At this point, Mike and his family is Chester's home, he just needs to realise it. I hope it happens in these few future chapters. If not, I'd still love this story all the same. I love your stories, they just are always so emotional. *sighs*

Anyway, I hope you can upload the next chapter soon! Can't wait to see what happens now! :)

I CANT FUCKING BREATHE

And the phone

Sniff.... Sob...

It is a true testament to your writing skills that I read this chapter knowing that Mike is absolutely doing the right thing, the socially and morally acceptable thing, but it felt so wrong. I figured after the talk with Brad, and the long drive, that this is where things were headed. (It’s most of the reason I didn’t bug you every day for this chapter.) I knew it was going to suck and I was going to hate it, and in that respect, you didn’t disappoint. It sucks and I hate it. I was doing okay until Chester talked to Otis, and as soon as Otis said, “you are home,” I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. Awful, awful, awful scene. I hated Otis thinking Chester could come back next summer, that’s such an 8 year-old way to think and I was ugly crying by this point, because their goodbye was awful. Otis is an innocent bystander in this. He doesn’t know the real reasons why Chester is leaving and he gets no say in it, and he’s so hurt. At least Mike understands what he’s doing, and I think to a degree Chester understands why he’s leaving, too. But Otis, all he knows is that someone he loves is leaving, and that sucks.

I was dreading it from the moment Chester woke up. I have terrible impulse control, so even though I knew what was coming, I really wanted them to have goodbye sex. But Mike was right in stopping that. It’s not fair when one person knows what’s coming and the other doesn’t. So then I got mad that I was being denied break up sex. Being mad kept me from crying, so that worked out. (Don’t think I didn’t notice Chester going slow this morning, because I did.) And reading Mike try to get through his words was painful. It was part lawyer/part heartbroken man it I hated it! All of these unreturned “I love you” moments are just awful. I think that is the worst part for my sensitive heart. I hate that Mike is so open with his feelings and gets nothing in return. That’s just terrible. I know you’ll defend Chester and say that he’s young and doesn’t really know what love is, but ugh. It’s terrible. Mike says it twice while he’s leaning on the door and *nothing*.

I wasn’t surprised Mike wanted Chester to keep the phone, and I wasn’t surprised that Chester says no (though I think he’d regret that quickly.) Mike wanted to keep him, even though he knows he shouldn’t. Chester only said no out of spite, I think. I don’t think there was any deeper understanding of how keeping a tie between them would be detrimental. If there was, then good for him for recognizing that having access to each other would be more harmful than good. I think he regrets it the moment Mike drives away, though. Chester doesn’t want to be home any more than Mike wanted to leave him there. It’s the worst break up ever! I hate it, I hate every second of it, I hate their last hug and last kiss and last words and how broken they are. It’s not fair. Even if it’s “the right thing to do.” This whole chapter ranks right up there with the scene on the roof in MINE and the break up scene in I Wish It Wasn’t So. And that’s really saying something. Both of those scenes tore me up when I read them the first time. MINE was terrible because they both knew they were breaking up for stupid reasons, and IWIWS was even more terrible because Mike didn’t do the right thing as far as not having breakup sex. So I guess attorney Mike did the right thing, but somehow it’s worse. I DON’T LIKE IT. I’m sorry, I just don’t. It has nothing to do with the writing, obviously, because if I can ugly cry and hate something so much, I’m obviously very attached to the characters and the writing is amazing. But I still don’t like it and I want it fixed.

I have to say, if you leave it like this, and they aren’t together, then props to you for holding strong. I won’t be mad, just sad for them. But life doesn't always work the way we want it to, so if Mike and Otis move out and Chester moves on, and they don’t end up together, then I’ll accept that. Bitterly. Sorry for the terrible review, this was a very heartbreaking chapter.

I also want to say that Mike working thru the options in his head and thinking about sending Chester back home and all the stuff that entails... That's hard too and I wonder if Chester will be able to deal with that and cooked out ok after this experience he's had... But I don't know what Chester thinks.. Cos that's not something we have clarity over... I guess he doesn't know either?

This was stock a heartbreaking chapter... After all that I think I loved Brad! He was sympathetic not just judgemental like I expected and what he told Mike just broke my heart... Poor Chester poor Mike

God I hate that Brad has such a valid point

Damn Brad and his logic and reality. This chapter made me cry, and I needed some time to try to write a review.

I know what it’s like to be dissatisfied with your life. I really identify with Mike as far as that goes. You know I’ve been back and forth with all of it. I understand him and I get being swept up in Chester and this idea of what *could be* and not seeing the reality of things right in front of you. When he was watching Chester dress and looking at him from an outside perspective, it was shocking to see the things he’d been overlooking. I mean, he knew that stuff was there. But having his secret out, and having people trying to reason with him has taken off the rose colored glasses a bit. I hate it for Mike, because I can feel how much it’s hurting him. I hate it because Brad is right, if Chester was ten years older, none of it would be an issue.

I know Chester’s reaction to getting married was predictable, but somehow that was still shocking, too. We’ve been inside Mike’s head and know that he’s been thinking this way for a while, and from a legal standpoint, it makes sense. But not including Chester in all those plans - Chester is right, it’s a big 'what the fuck I’m not doing that' moment. At least Mike took a step back and tried not to be too pushy, but Chester definitely won that conversation when he told Mike that Otis thought his marriage to Anna was real. That was a big ouch moment and I was proud of Chester for saying it, but damn! It hurt, too!

And Brad. I know that he’s right, and I hate him for that. Mike really sucked it up and told the truth, which I have to admire, but Brad also handed him a defeat in that conversation. He’s totally right about how Mike has just assumed that Chester will step into this role that Mike had planned for him without even asking. Mike’s internal monologue is painful to read while he’s trying to convince Brad, because it’s obvious he’s trying to convince himself, too. Chester hasn’t mentioned love, and Chester flat said he doesn’t want to get married, and Mike is holding on to both of those things like he can just make them happen. Chester isn’t a case to win, though, and I think Mike doesn’t realize that being able to convince Chester to do something isn’t the same as Chester wanting to do it.

By the time Mike was driving around I was crying and then the whole coming home to Chester part made it worse, and then I was pretty much just miserable for a while after reading this chapter. That whole unreturned I love you in the bed was just unbearable. I want to go give Mike a big hug and tell him it’s going to be okay, but I’m pretty sure it’s not. They’re going to wake up and Mike is going to tell Chester what Brad said and that he should go home, even though that’s not what he wants. At that point, you’re either going to have Chester agree and go home and then I’ll be miserable all day or Chester is going to say fuck no and they’ll end up in this condo, lol. It’s all just miserable right now and I’m sorry I’m going to say this, but hurry up and write the next part so if you’re going to totally break my heart you can get it over with.