Author's Notes:

There! I did it! I got this piece finally banged out before the fated "Burns Cage" episode airs. Now I can watch that, and either laugh (or cry) as the mood fits. This story is about half the length I originally had. I'm sure you've gathered that by now. There were several scenes that cut throughout the tale. I'll be including at least a few of them.

For those of you who have read "Nuclear Attraction," many of the authors' notes from there apply here as well. For those of you who haven't read that piece, please take a quick jot over, read the "author's notes" and hop back.

The "Deleted Scenes" chapters are as-is, meaning they might or might not fit with the direct continuity. The problem with having Nuclear Attraction, Unfolding, and any related stories all together was it ruined the cohesive narrative. It was a great idea, but like Communism, failed horribly in execution. There were too many side avenues. The route got lost.

With that in mind, I don't expect much love for these supplemental chapters, but that's okay. There's a reason things get cut. I regret nothing!

Several people have contacted me through various sites, asking if I plan to write a sequel. The official answer is: "no, not anytime soon, at least." There is plenty of material for one in the handful of deleted scenes I didn't post. I'm sure people are left wondering why I didn't have Leon around when Smithers went to say goodbye. That's because, well, I'm not sure if I'm done with Leon yet. The idea of an official goodbye seemed premature.

There's also that small matter of the favor that Thaddeus Dimas owed Burns. Yes, I do know what it is; and if I ever do write further, it will probably be addressed. I'm not sure we should say goodbye to the Plateau City crew just yet. Preston and Antoine? There's a good chance they'll resurface as well.

A few people have asked me about Plateau City itself. Well, I built it back in 2001 as part of a setting for an old table-top role playing game I was DMing/storytelling. I like building stories. It's what I do. Anyhow, it was a "World of Darkness" setting; with all manner of supernatural creatures. I needed a city, so I built one. Ever since then, when I need a fictional place setting I know like the back of my hand, I often go back to Plateau City. Monument Park was part of the city from it's very first creation, it's the heart of Plateau City. Consider Plateau City and Monument Park to be the Nexus of my literary multiverse, if you will. Most stories won't even mention it, but in all my worlds, it exists.

I've gotten a handful of requests for a "Pantoine" pairing. *laughs* I like those two, but I never guessed they'd become so popular! And, honestly, a "Pantoine" ship did cross my mind, but I didn't keep references to it because it distracted from the main arc of Smithers and Burns.

Either way, as I see it, Preston Tucci and Antoine Radison may be my OCs, but by uploading them to the internet, they now belong to the world. If anyone wants to ship them, please feel free. Just give me credit for their creation... oh, and send me a link because I'd be very curious to know what other people see happening next.

Fan fiction is an ever-evolving medium. I don't see that I can claim exclusive ownership over my OCs, while writing stories about someone else's OCs, like Monty Burns and Waylon Smithers ((c) Matt Groening). - Yeah, saying "I can use your toys, but no one can use mine" seems hypocrisy to me. Art observes, borrows, learns... evolves! It lives from inspiration! If something I wrote inspires someone else's work, hey that's freakin' awesome!

I mean, everything I've ever created has been inspired by something somewhere: whether a natural feature that captured my eye, or a human-created experience (architectural, visual, or written) that has affected me.

The greatest compliment anyone can ever get from a creation is learning it has evoked thought and feeling in another.

Thankyou all who have read "The Unfolding of Waylon Smithers," faved it, followed it, made comments and fan art. Thankyou for sharing your responses to my work with me! YOU are the reason I publish these! You are the people who inspire me to keep honing my craft. I owe each and every one of you a debt of gratitude, from the bottom of my very real and beating heart.

I'm glad to be part of your experience.

~ Muse