AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!! (Had to have some "story" in there)

Please excuse any typos and punctuation errors, I think I'm sooo tired of looking for them. Ha! After this I'm getting an big ole glass of sweetened iced tea and settling in to read a few of y'all's fics!

I believe there are some who may have abandoned it due to its long and winding length. Or perhaps because it changed from a Rily to a Trily. I am grateful to those who read it in its entirety. I'll list some thank you notes at the end but for now I wanted to give a little insight into how this story came to be what it is. So if you are not into that kind of thing scroll down or click on to the next story.

This is probably long for notes too but I feel I deserve it, it is the longest damn story in the fandom. So sue me!

When I read a great story I always think to myself how I would love to know how the author came up with certain things or perhaps why they put it in at all. I like author's notes; it gives me a feel for the person behind the story. You all would laugh to know how this all started. With the finale ep of course but also with my constant play of the CD Parachutes by Coldplay. For some reason, every time I listened to it, I found myself thinking of Lily and Travis. Out popped my ficlet Enlightenment and E Strings, my first baby step toward posting on the internet. After receiving welcoming reviews I made an outline for a longer story. It's laughable really how it differed between where it ended up. Travis never even went to London in that outline. And I nearly bowled over laughing when xo bella italiana ox reviewed that she assumed it would end with a big ole romantic scene in the airport because that's exactly how I'd originally planned it. LOL.

You want to know where I got that ending? The dentist's office. No joke. I was sitting there, laid back, with the nitrous flowing, and getting a tooth fixed. I had my Coldplay rolling in the headphones of my CD player and was looking at the stupid TV they have up in the corner that constantly plays tidbits of info and tips for good oral health. LOL. Anyway, up pops this thing about eating healthy and an apple a day. Yada yada yada. And it gives out that tidbit about the ancient Greek proposal. I'm sure the dentist wondered why I grinned. LOL. I could just see Travis pulling out a historical tidbit in any romantic overture.

As for the Gigantuous Twee and the Dogwood? I just love trees. It's the one thing I miss when ever I've traveled somewhere. California, Illinois, Arizona, all were wonderful but I've always loved coming back home to the trees here in Arkansas. Tennessee comes to a close second but for all those darned Volunteer fans running around. Anyway, I had one of those giant trees while growing up. And it's beautiful to drive though our state and see a dogwood peeking out from a forest in full bloom.

The one thing I didn't like about my story is it's beginning. After reaching the 12th chapter, I read it through again and thought: Well, that part might be a little cheesy. I couldn't bring myself to change it because I thought it showed some growth in my writing along the way. A highway marker along this long journey. ;) Oh, and of course the detail error involving Kim. I so wanted it to be true to every nuance of the show. Again, I didn't pull it or change it. I just loved the scene at the dance with Ray's insults. E-vil pez dispenser. I love Pez. It also got me to know Dani a little better which proved beneficial in the long run. ;)

The parts I am most proud of are between Lily and Ray. It's easy to write a love story but much more difficult to portray unrequited love and devoted friendship. I was utterly pleased with the scene after Travis had left between Lily and Ray under the infamous tree. I hoped to make Ray a little more mature in his understanding of Lily's relationship than just a schoolboy with a jealous crush. I wanted to show all of them growing up since this story was going to end at their "12th" year's end.

I wanted to give Audrey some play time as well and not just have her there for a one line retort. I wanted to add depth which is something the RFR writers haven't done for this character. Her perspectives line in Chapter Five is one of my favorites. Also I wanted to make her seem more real and honest in her emotions that that lame break up scene on the show. There was a reason Travis liked her to begin with and I wanted to pull that out.

Of course I loved the scenes with Travis and Lily. The kiss at the dance, if only that had ever happened to me in real life, I'd die a very happy person. I related their emotions to the love of her guitar because that is what pulled me into this mess in the first place. The acoustic and electric sounds all through the Coldplay CD are wonderful. I recommend it highly. My favorite movies involve the central characters being apart but ending together in that wonderful drawn out tension. I was hoping to imitate that.

Other characters: Barty was purely a PA character, Plot Advancement. I hope he was somewhat realistic. Vic is probably my Mary Sue. He is most like me. Music fanatic with absolutely no talent. Full of one-liners and no self edit button. Very amicable to most anyone and just slightly "blonde" in his understanding of the grand scheme of things. That's me in a nutshell. The only difference is he is bold enough to have the tattoo and the piercings. ;) I hope you enjoyed him.

Weirdness in Just J and the bum. I know I have beliefs in the way God handles things but I wanted to make everything just vague enough for the reader to put their own stamp on it. So if they are angels or just weird people, that's up to y'all. I personally believe that there are angels but yet sometimes God calls upon real persons to do His Work for him. It's a wonderful thing when God speaks through you. O.K. enough preaching. On to my thank you's in no particular order whatsoever.

Special thanks again to Dangrassi. I was in a cold sweat about this ending. I knew where I wanted it to end with the apple scene but oh it was terrifying that I didn't know how to get it there. She innocently sent me a song she had heard and thought of my story while listening to it. Bless her, she is my angel. I happened to own that CD from a couple of years ago and on it there was another song that tapped my writing muse of the shoulder. So again, thanks for that. But…I feel I also found a new "cyber friend." Her emails lightened my day. Dani, you are a good person. Yes, we will talk again my friend. LOL!

Also, thanks to Cassandra01000. She too was an email pal. And my sharp pointy stick. She would constantly remind me that I was being a little pokey with my updates, especially for the last. LOL. I was glad to have helped her with her fic and look at her now, getting all those lovely little reviews! You go girl!

That leads me to those of you I didn't correspond with directly but whose messages through reviews and authors notes were still important to me!

Eyes of a child: My first review and my 100th. I just knew your were a glory hog. LOL. Thanks for your input to improve the first chapters.

ihavenoclus, chaotess, angelfromhigh, Drama Queen Confessions, trily=love, yotrilyster, trilyisOMGcool, Robin, Trickster Jaina-Fel, canadianchic14, Trily, The Girl Next Door, dubleohsev, Lindsey, Freakage, Lauren, I AM COW HEAR ME MOO, Charmedgurl76, and ShadySmog: You all added fuel to the fire for me to keep going! Thanks!

rokjai, Magik, archforge: Many reviews from you but oh where oh where do you go? I hope you made it to the end and that you enjoyed it. Thanks for giving me your opinions, they meant a lot.

Obsessed: Are you still obsessed? I hope so, great anonymous names by the way! LOL.

M L Europe: I seem to have lost you too. I hope you read to the end and enjoyed as well. Your reviews cracked me up and made me feel self-pride. Such an important thing.

twirlgirl04: My X-Files fanatic friend. I hoped to have pulled some of that Mulder/Scully romantic tension into this. You can have the X-Files review beg, it is you, I give it to you! LOL!

thoughtprovoked: Thanks so much, I look forward "provoking more thought."

Zen-ish: Thank you so much for your kind words.

Carissa: Hope you finished it, sorry you lost interest at 16.

Slayer2003: You are a good writer and you earned my respect by graciously accepting our stories' similarities and giving me the green light when I had asked. Sign of a professional! Hope you like how it all turned out. Thanks!

rainbowfeet: Thanks to you for putting me in that upper five percent. I am honored.

Ana: Your last review touched my heart. You are most most welcome Dahling. Feel free to drop me an email! Thanks for all your reviews, perhaps you should write a story too. I know I'd be there.

Unknown: You sound an awful lot like Cass, LOL! Thanks.

Deirdre2: I hope you like J now. LOL! Sorry I ended it on you. Thanks for reading.

almostnever: yes the bum was cool. The last review beg, LOL. Well, what can I say, Snape is my favorite HP character, so so mysterious.

Sinilu Silverspell: Ah, Sini. You made me grin…pretty rainbow cubes…a pretty little bouquet of words just for me. Thanks. Sorry, no sex. Not brave enough to write that yet. Maybe someday, LOL! Yes, to that last review beg. Snape as an author, that's just how MY mind works too. Email me, we'll discuss HP plots! LOL!

fictionlynchick: Thanks for reading this. Your writing is so well done as well. It's nice to get reviews from people whose writing I respect!

Alanna Banana: Yes! H/Hr all the way! Glad you like this story.

Claymate: I didn't mean to make you cry, honest. Thanks for reading. Oh, and BTW I'm waiting on an update from you! ;)

beegoo: I'm glad I pulled off a feel for a place I've never been. Thanks for your support and kind words.

RFRbayb20: He came back! Aren't you glad? Well, technically Lily came back but that's all good too. Thanks for reading!

Katie: Awwwww, thanks.

Liz: Your review was special to me because you said you enjoyed the RILY parts too even though you are a T/L fan. Such an honor! Thanks.

Mirroring You: I was worried about Travis' characterization, thanks for easing my fears. Happy ending just for you!

xo bella italiana ox: You just don't know how happy I was each time you reviewed. Bless you. Your story captured Travis so well; I'd hoped you'd like my writing too. Thanks so so much! One review from you could make my week! LOL

Cindy aka no more meat: Oh, oh, oh! More Italian please! I LOVED THAT!!!

Silver Fists: Oh, don't be addicted! There's no 12 step program for fanfiction addiction (oooo, a rhyme)! Your writing is superb as well.

ShadyLanne: Thanks, honestly, Yes the end was good, evem more so because of the odd little way from which it was inspired.

SumPerson714: Falling in love….awesome. Yes I plan to write more someday, hopefully soon.

Reviewchick14: That's O.K. your one review packed a pretty good punch! Thank YOU for reading and thinking I've got talent.

Claddagh Ring: I love those ancient Star Trek shows! LOL! I'm glad you liked it and my story.

Mutant Jedi Bauer: Good Lord, no telling what I said on that board to amuse you. LOL! If it had to do with Legolas and burnt chicken please excuse me. I probably had too much Cherry Coke and Dani had too many M&M's Glad you enjoyed the story.

mistress of the universe: Again kind words from a great author are the best kind to receive. The question about this story is: How worthy is it? LOL!

IF I HAVE MISSED ANYONE AT ALL, I APOLOGIZE. IF SO, FLAME ME AND I'LL BE SURE TO WRITE A REVIEW BEG JUST FOR YOU IN MY NEXT STORY! LOL!