Well, Kittens, I am frightfully longwinded in my response, but that’s really your fault because you have been so, so generous with your feedback. I really feel lucky to have had such kind people reading this thing.
Individually….
Nicole, I didn’t see it coming really, but in the end, it all came down to family. I’m so glad you liked it, and thank you for the encouragement. I think I will not be able to stop myself from writing more; it’s completely addictive.
WiccansIllusion, hmmm. A sequel? Did I leave things open? Me? I love the idea of romantique writing; thanks for that. And I think maybe it did get better over time, although I still have a soft spot for the chapters right when Tara came back. Thank you for reading.
Kasey, I wasn’t sure about bringing in Janice in like that, but in the end, I wanted to show Dawn making a conscious choice to respect Willow and Tara’s relationship, and Janice seemed to provide a natural way to do that. And thank you so much for saying you’ll be looking for future stories; it’s very encouraging. I appreciate it.
Rane thanks so much. I’ve hardly given myself a chance in this story for anyone to feel lighthearted, but I figure a week passes, and everyone starts to feel a little euphoric. Hugs to you, too, and thanks for reading.
Justin, wow. I’m overwhelmed by your response, in a good way. Thank you for the time it must have taken you to write all of that. I think I’m going to have to go look for your fanfic now…. I think I know what you mean about craving but also fearing comments/feedback…and not just the flames, either, right? There’s a fear that in the responses, you as a writer won’t recognize the story that you are being shown. Not in the good way, where readers always see things you didn’t intend to put there, but in another way….that readers read something essentially different from what you wrote. At least, that’s what I thought of when I read that. It makes me so happy to see when readers see closure here, and perspective, and steps taken to fix a mess. That’s what I wanted t do so, so much, and I think I’ve been really lucky that the story I’ve seen coming back to me in feedback is the one I really hoped people would see.
As for Dawn, I have a lot of ideas about Dawn and her purpose and her Keyness…I think I’ve become so immersed in my version of her that I’ve blocked out the screechy voice altogether. Thanks for reminding me.
I think that what I found so interesting about the characters as they were left to be fixed at the end of S6 was that with D, B, W and T, as connected and interdependent as they are, they are in such different places. It’s really a best of all four, or three, worlds. That’s what hurts the most to me about the way the show has gone; the characters were so very rich, so suggestive. And now, it seems, they are not. As for Doc…well, I didn’t really give that too much closure here, but I always loved him. He had so much potential. And I loved the scaffolding scene you mentioned…he thought of himself as a threat, but he was just an insect to Buffy. I just loved that.
So thanks for your comments. And thanks so much for reading.
Branny, thank you for reading. And thanks for quoting. It’s strange…I see a quote, and I look at it, and then I think, “wow, I wrote that. Hee hee.” There’s a little thrill, you know? Thank you so much.
Autumn, seriously, if people will read what I write, then I’m the lucky one. I mean it. Thank you so much for reading this whole thing, really, and thanks for making a fairly recent newcomer feel so welcome here. You and so many others really are generous in letting new people in. Thank you for that.
Blameburner, now see, my mother always told me, growing up, that I talked too much. So now I want to say, “hey Mom, look? I have a poet’s heart! So there!” But, sigh, I will never say that to her, so it will have to just be my little secret happy thing.
Thank you so much for reading.
Darkmagicwillow, I’m glad it worked. I really wanted to play with the elements, and the characters just suggested them to me so naturally. I know that it doesn’t entirely mesh with the colors (in that air is supposed to be yellow, but I can’t help but think of Dawn as green), but a little poetic license, perhaps. But for the other things you said abut the elements…it makes me think that I got across what I wanted to, and so I feel relieved. As for what you said about the union of the elements, well just see me blush. Sweetness.
As for the quotations….I couldn’t possibly say.
That would require admitting that I have more than once gone to a quotation database and punched in keyboards. And as a teacher who spends a lot of time on quotation practices, I know that I shouldn’t do that. Because it’s wrong.
I love what you say about someone building the world as well as defending it; what a gorgeous reading of Xander’s character; you just made me see him in a whole new way. And I love the idea of Tara as “permanence in motion.”
Anyway, thank you for your comments all along and for challenging me to think more deeply about certain elements of this story. In the end, I didn’t do more with Doc, but there’s always next time…. And somehow, your signature just seems so right at this point. I love it.
MadeinNZ, it’s never repetitive to hear that someone liked it. Really! It means a lot. Thanks for what you said about closure; that was the main thing for me. Thank you for reading.
Sandbox, thanks. Peace…that’s a nice description. In the end, I really did little else for the last few months than work on this, so it means a lot that you liked it. In the end, I wanted all our girls happy. And now they are.
Mollyig, thank you. I have this image of Tara and Willow as water and fire, blue and red, perfectly matched. That’s why I love those two so much….they can handle anything we put on them, you know? But I wanted to thank you, too, for being such a committed responder. You gave me feedback every time, I think, and I really appreciated that. As you know, it can be scary to put something out there, and just knowing that there are readers who read everything…well, it’s a comfort. It really is. So thank you.
Kath, thanks. Thanks especially for “original”; having not written fan fiction before, I had no idea how anyone ever comes up with an original idea, even though people do it all the time. So that means a lot. Thank you!
Tiggr, thanks so much. As I’ve said, I got a little carried away with the elements…even did some research on them…but it felt right for me. The elements are so connected, all depending on one another for balance, and that’s just how I wanted to feel here. Thank you for reading!
Ruth. Don’t hate me. Because then you’d have to hate yourself. So much of the little things that went right (I hope) in these last 7 chapters have been due to your reading and chats and comments. You’re a damn good reader, and that’s all there is to it. As for you loving Xander, well, I hardly ever get to say this, but Mwahahahaha. See, now I’m starting to think there’s a challenge in here. If I can make a few people like Xander again, then what can I do with Mr. Finn? The wheels are turning already. Hmmmm….season five, here I come.
But you know, you also commented every time, even before you knew who I was, and as I said to Autumn above, I feel really lucky. You all have been around for a long time, and this is your place, but you make new people feel welcome. So thank you.
Melissa, wow; burning to a cd…thanks. For reading and for commenting and for saying you liked it. All three things matter to me, and all three I appreciate. As for Les Mis…well, I’ve only seen it once, but I’ll tell you, my girlfriend and I, somewhat creepily, have all the characters divided up, and we each know all the lyrics. So when we go on roadtrips (nerd city), we sing the whole thing in the car. We’re terrible singers, but there’s nothing more satisfying than belting out “One More Day” on an interstate highway. That’s the good stuff. Thanks again.
You all have been so great. I have to thank you again. And now I have to catch up on all the reading I've been neglecting...other threads, here I come.