The Next Year - Comments

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Great chapter

Loved seeing this updated!!!!

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Thank you MITCHEAE and Thatmom. I've got a new writing system that seems to be working for me.

great chapter

Woohoo!! Happy happy with this update:)

So happy everyone was together

So happy everyone was together

Perfect party!!!

love it

So so happy to see this update:)

I liked this chapter, lock out or not. Well written!

@ MITCHEAE
Thanks, I hope no one hates me for the next few though... Despite the rumors, I _do_ have a plan. LOL

Great chapter

thank u for the update can't wait for more

@ Thatmom
Thanks, I had life get bad for a while so that kind of stopped me, but I'm better now. Sometimes you have to show the little ways that people love, the simple ways.

I also enjoyed having him give her the silent treatment for a while. It's fun to show those kinds of things too.

So so happy to see this update. Love the couple they are continuing to become. They seem to grow closer and loser in a way that cements their feelings without words.

@ jazter
Just because I didn't write him arguing with his friends doesn't mean he hasn't. They've been together 8 years, having to fight and argue for that long will wear anyone down. As for the wedding invitation, did you think that maybe it was Aleks who told him to go ahead and go? It was the plan for the party for their friends to back up what Sid had been saying for years.

Understand that they _are_ a united front and support each other no matter what. If you notice the second Sid shows up, they shut up. He has told them time and time again that they are wrong and need to give her a chance, not his fault they are stubborn.

They do have a healthy relationship, you're just missing some of the pieces due to how this is being written.

I re-read the whole thing because it had been a while, and something is really bothering me in this story. Sid is being so passive in regards to standing up for Aleks, esp. with his childhood so-called friends. He should have been making it clear from the beginning that their hate and animosity was both mis-placed and unacceptable. Seriously? Ch. 2 - a wedding invite addressed to Sid saying explicitly he is to leave the 'gold digger' behind. He should never have accepted the invitation, that is simply rude and completely unacceptable. His accepting the invitation says that he thinks it's ok to treat her like that and that there will be no consequences to that kind of behavior. And in part 4, their mutual friends are talking her up to the doubters and he doesn't stand up for her at all.

She shouldn't have to prove herself to them without Sid's support. He should have stood up for her, he should have told them that they didn't have to like her but they had to be polite and respectful. And then enforced that. And even if Aleks had been a harpy and a gold-digger, he should have made it clear that she was his choice and any mistakes were his to make. Hell, a lot of rich guys marry girls they know are gold diggers and they can make it work if both sides are getting what they want out of the relationship. THat's not Aleks and that's not what Sid wants but even if it was, they should be polite.

In Chapter 1, Sid says, "You and me against the world." I'm not seeing him presenting a united front with her. I'm seeing him standing back and watching her fight her fights and some of what should be their fights, too. She needs to stand up for herself, absolutely, but he should make it clear that she has his backing every step of the way and Aleks should always know that Sid has her back, no matter who she's up against. God help her when they do become parents if he's not willing and able to present a unified front with her to the kids. Kids are opportunists and know when their parents aren't working together and will totally end-run one parent to get what they want. Healthy boundaries make for healthy relationships, whether that's between partners, friends, or family.

This kind of thing obviously fires me up. A good relationship is a partnership and there has to be mutual respect. Part of that respect is not allowing others in one's life to disrespect one's partner. Setting and enforcing boundaries is always better done by the person who is closest to the person transgressing the boundaries (i.e. ideally a spouse should set limits and expectations with his or her family/friends, not with the in-laws or the other spouse's friends). Allowing family or friends to rip on one's partner has destroyed millions of relationships and marriages.

I did like the last chapter a lot, though, it was a nice change over some of the preceding and it feels like the story is going to really take off soon. I hope I didn't upset you and I apologize if I did.