*sigh* God I wish I could write like you. I'm so jealous. It's like you have this wonderful insight into all the characters you write. They are such real people (does that make sense?) I agree with your opinion of Tom making a great dad, guys like him (kinda tough image)quite often have this wonderful nurturing side buried away. I love how you've portrayed him as not exactly insecure, but not the self-assured charater he usually gets written as. And Bill, I get the impression he may be the pursuer in the story, as opposed to the usually portrayed pursued (but don't tell me if I'm wrong). If this is what the first chapter is like, I can hardly wait to read the rest (I will make the time, damnit. I will make the kids have two naps, if necessary).