When I was first theorizing at people, a surprising number of them were either skeptical of the idea that Stacy and Michael knew, or had never thought about it one way or the other, so I found it very reassuring the first time or two that someone else was like "well, obviously!" There are so many nods to it scattered here and there. (One that particularly interests me is Georgia writing in Feed that she and Shaun would have still been sharing a bedroom "if they'd let us".)

Everything about the reunion makes my heart overflow. Everything. All the places where it's awkward and uncertain, and the places where it's like nothing's changed. My favorite may be the ride back to the hotel from the CDC, when she just climbs into his arms and snuggles down and falls into instant, perfect sleep, and then when he threatens her awake. *^^*

*nods* I imagine that at the very least, constantly hiding a major aspect of their relationship would have contributed to how reserved she is. Shaun does mention when head!George cuddles up with him that she hid physical affection from their parents even when they were kids, but having it become a need for secrecy as well as a desire for privacy can't have helped with her keeping her distance. (Although on the flip side, Shaun's still very tactile with her in front of people and cameras.)

And because this reminded me of a thing that delights me, I'm gratuitously pasting in a bit of an email that wildpear wrote to me when she started rereading Feed a while ago. *g* She said, "Okay, and I actually noticed this the first time, but "Shaun grudgingly slid his other arm around my waist and linked his hands at the pit of my stomach" is just unsettlingly physical if you're thinking 'siblings'. I remember reading that and going "huh, wait? . . . ." and then just deciding it was awkward writing, because obviously he had to put his hands there and what was my problem. But he didn't have to do it like THAT, and she didn't have to notice so graphically, did she? Yes, yes she did. I also like, immediately afterwards, "as he settled." Because that is so very much what Shaun does. He haz a George, and he's not busy poking things? He just settles in and makes himself cozy."