Ivy was the first character, and the first thing. She sprang into my head full and entire, and she really hasn't changed much at all; she's always been brash and reckless and kind and utterly loyal. She did not, however, tell me she was a lesbian for nearly a year. That wasn't fun.

It... hasn't changed much. There's been some character resettling as people settled into their selves; Aaron, for example, was in my original draft straight and dating Danny, when he is actually biromantic ace and... hahahahahahahahaha NO. Summer was originally supposed to marry Zack, and Felipe was just a friend, then he told me he was in love with both of them, then my head started a shipwar and I had to make the OT3 canon just to get it all to shut up. But the story itself, all this about family and chosen family and love and loyalty, that's always been the same.