I understand how lack of motivation can cramp a writer’s story. It’s exactly why I still have 5 unfinished stories of my own. My stories are going to be novels if I can finish them, but I don’t have a time limit right now, so I can’t imagine how it must be for a fanfic writer who has so many people waiting for updates. Just put the story aside, don’t even think about it, take a deep breath, relax, do something you love to do, and come back to the story when an idea strikes. That’s what I did, and a few months later, I sat down and finally finished a short story. Don’t feel pressured to post updates just because there are people waiting. If they love your story, they’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Writing is supposed to be fun; if you’re not inspired, the story won’t come to you. I love your story, and I’ll never abandon it. I’m with you until the end.

Very nice update! I enjoyed reading Katherine's thoughts, and seeing Damon through her eyes; I think you capture the intensity of her feelings very well:) Good to know that they have found Isobel, the girls' meeting their birth mother will probably be crucial in the story. It's been also nice to read the scene between the brothers and Mr. Branson, he is a great gentleman. I have perceived a feeling of uncertainty and imminent danger in these last few chapters, you have done a great job at giving me that impression:)

Regarding your note, I totally understand the feeling of struggling with motivation to continue to write, so I would like to say a big Thank you! for coming back to the story, and giving us one more chapter. I hope that you will continue to find the time, inspiration and motivation to continue and finish it, because in my humble opinion, it is a gem among the stories on this site. And I want to assure you that, as far as I am concerned, I am very, very interested in reading it, and that I will continue to follow it, no matter how sparse the updates will be. Of course I would like the updates to be more often, but I will be thankful with what I will get, and no pressure on you:)

Big congratulations on your graduation, hope you enjoy it a lot! Wishing you a beautiful summer and all the best with your new job!

Great chapter update soon

Please update

Wowwww one of the very best chapters that has described the underlying emotions

I loved the way you redefined regret and it was so powerful that I was able to feel Elena’s emotions

Katherine seems very sensible and she is the only person who can help Elena emotionally and hopefully they become very close and start treating each other like a family as both of them need each other now more than ever

Hopefully you update sooner

Thank you for this beautiful chapter, Shannen! I don't know if "beautiful" is the right term to describe it, since it is not exactly a "happy" chapter as it mostly deals with Elena's pain, but the term certainly describes the way you wrote it. I think it was necessary to focus on Elena, since she seems the most affected by the latest events in the story. It is never wrong to focus on the characters and their inner struggles and emotions, because they are indeed the heart of the story.

I think you did a wonderful job in portraying Elena's state of mind - anyone who would experience the trauma she had to experience would be as shattered as she is. The highlight of this chapter for me was the moment between Katherine and Elena; I think Katherine is wise beyond her years, and if there is someone who can relate to Elena, that is Katherine because she too has endured so much suffering. I think that, for a moment, Elena really connected with her sister, and that was very beautiful:)

The story is indeed becoming darker, I already noticed that in the previous chapters. I am very interested in what is going to happen next, and I really hope that these beautiful characters will somehow be safe eventually!

A very belated Happy New Year to you too, hope you have a great year with many beautiful moments and fulfilled dreams!

Out of curiosity when are Damon and Katherine going to get the chance to connect like Stefan and Elena? They keep making love and Damon reunited with his lost love and they have yet to appreciate that.

Update soon

Great chapter! I love the flashbacks, but also the present time scenes. I love seeing Damon as a true big brother, trying to protect and care for his little brother; I love his sense of responsibility towards Stefan; Damon did not have an easy life!

I loved that Damon and Stefan try their best to reconcile Katherine and Elena, both trying at the same time to respect and understand the sisters' points of view. It is indeed not easy for Elena, her entire world has been turned upside down, not to mention the shock that she lived at seeing her parents die. I appreciate that Stefan loves her the same, even if she has changed a lot, and that Damon manages to get through to her.

Mr. Branson is a lovely man, I just hope that this entire situation will not have negative consequences for him. After everything that has happened I fear for everybody, including him!

Thank you for a beautiful chapter. And for making it longer. I actually don't mind longer or shorter chapters, but it is always nice to read a little bit more of your wonderful story!

Another amazing chapter. Take your time, I'd choose quality over quantity any day. Keep up the great work.

I totally understand how the writing process goes. I’m still working on a book that I started writing in 2015. I appreciate the work you’re putting into this story, and I’m going to stick with you until the end no matter how long it takes. I love this story so much! I feel like Damon got through to Elena in this chapter, or at least I hope he did. I know she’ll learn to accept her twin sister. I’m looking forward to the next chapter and learning whether or not they find the Petrovas. Thanks for the update.

When Elena decided to speak to Katherine, I thought she was going to try to connect with her sister. I guess I should have expected for her to be cruel and immature. She’s making me so angry. Katherine has wanted nothing but family her whole life. She finally finds her biological sister, a twin no less, and her sister is cruel to her. This makes me so sad. I hope that when all of this is over, Elena can get over this disdain she has for Katherine. I can’t wait to see what happens in Clifton. Thanks for th update.

Woah! The wait ends!
Each chapter is written in such a way that at the end, the heart wants more...

Stefan is being very mature and doesn’t allow emotions to cloud him.. he doesn’t lash out at Elena when she is in the wrong and clearly expresses what he feels ..so

Now, Elena, even if she is wrong, I won’t entirely blame her reaction.. I feel this is what she might be thinking : she wants to trust and maybe even happy for a twin.. but deep inside she is afraid and has tiny tiny bit of apprehension... that’s wat she is portraying outside ... she is not as experienced as Katherine is in this dept.

Hopefully they both reconnect and even start feeling protective of each other going forward...
We had seen a lot of bonding between the brothers and now it’s time for the sisters to muster some..

I had just finished your beautiful one-shot "Just for tonight" last night (better said, this very early morning, as I could not sleep, and chose to read), when I discovered this update; it was such a nice little coincidence:)

I've read it this afternoon, and I must say this is one of my favorite chapters! It is also one of the chapters that was the fastest for me to read, I don't know why, I really had to slow down my reading to make sure I don't miss anything:) Probably because of the fact that it has a lot of dialogue, and the dialogue is very strong (I mean very well-written), in my opinion. And for sure because I have been curious to see the first interaction between Elena and Katherine.

First, I think that Stefan's idea to go and rescue Elena together with Damon was a good one, it would have indeed been shocking for Elena to see Katherine. Then I loved the dialogue between Elena and Stefan; Elena is taking all her anger and fear on Katherine, and that makes her irrational, but grief brings such emotions out of people. And Stefan has a lot of empathy and understanding for her, but I like that he insists on Elena talking to her sister, and getting to know her side of the story. And I love that he points out to her that she is behaving in an immature way.

I loved how you wrote the scene between Elena and Katherine, the moments when they just stared at each other, each of them trying to understand that the person in front is her twin sister. No warm and fuzzy feelings, just confusion and emotions that they are not able to fully understand. But I also love the fact that Damon points out that even if they are not feeling anything about each other right now, they will always have the connection that siblings, especially twins, have:)

And poor Damon, yes, he is Katherine's knight in shining armour, but he is only a man, and he is doing everything he can:) It is so nice to see Damon and Stefan on the same page, acting as mediators between the two sisters:)

That's it for now, I am sure I have missed a lot of important points in my review, this chapter had a lot for me to take in (in a good way). I will probably read it again, it was that good for me to read:)

Thank you so much for this chapter! I loved it!

The story is really good! Keeping me on my toes and although I’m a few chapters behind, I just wanna say that while I understand the reasoning behind Damon hiding Kat, (not to be picky and b*tchy), Stefan also kept Elena from Damon during those 3 months too. Even if Damon had let her go and Stefan and Elana proceeded with their holiday plans, they would’ve probably ended up dead because they mistook her for Katherine. I get it, she’s lost her parents, they were forced into a situation that is LITERALLY life and death and their emotions display what any other human would feel, but it’s just frustrating and heartbreaking that Stefan nor Elena come to realize that little detail. (And as mentioned I’m still a few chapters behind so idk if the issue is addressed but those were just my thoughts throughout this entire chapter. :b)