The Path Less Traveled by DizzyB

04/26/2016 08:11 pm
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AWW, I really wish you would continue with this fic. It is really awsome and I want to read more from it... Please!!

I've so enjoyed it but wish there was more! Thanks
05/08/2010 01:43 pm
Section V - Intermission         
 

10/17/2007 04:45 am
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spike's impulsive act should do much to speed up buffy's talk with dawn, and hopefully, spike. delightful read, thank you.

10/17/2007 04:45 am
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spike's impulsive act should do much to speed up buffy's talk with dawn, and hopefully, spike. delightful read, thank you.

notwhomever
09/18/2007 07:40 pm
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just found this story, I really like how you have focused it around the "outcast" of Angel and Buffy, giving them the respect, love and friendships the never had it the shows.
The story it self is very interesting and different. I look forward to see where you are going with
Spike, and how Willow and Xander are now.

jane
09/09/2007 04:56 pm
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It's so good to see Joyce again. I love that woman. Well before this, I didn't see any way Dawn was gonna give up her cosy little set up in LA. But now, I guess it depends on where Joyce decides to settle. I wonder who she thinks needs more support. Can't wait for the next installment.

isabel
09/05/2007 01:22 am
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So great! I'm so proud of Spike for sending Joyce back. He definitely proved that he is an amazing man. Not that I needed proof lol. That was such a selfless act. And the Slayer dream both Buffy and Faith shared was an interesting twist. I hope you update soon, I really enjoy your story.

09/04/2007 09:29 pm
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I just found this story and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters you focused the story around are some of my favourites. Thank you.

09/03/2007 03:33 pm
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Great chapter!!!!!

I was SO hoping you didn't forget about this story! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

09/03/2007 09:00 am
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nice chapter, love :) looking forward to more :)

M
09/03/2007 08:38 am
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I love your fic. It's well written and it fixes all the things I thought was wrong with Season 6! Keep up the great work!

kim
09/03/2007 03:41 am
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Great job with all the internal thoughts. Spike's got a big job ahead now, eh?

10/17/2007 03:31 am
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fantastic read, thank you. the blending of so many points of view provides a unique weave to this fine read,

jane
09/09/2007 02:54 pm
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I love this fic. I don't remember if I reviewed before cos I don't remember things ending like this. Wow what a ride, there's always so much to take in. I feel like I've been through an emotional wringer each time I read an update. It's taken me 2 days to reread up to this point, cos I have to break off to recover it affects me so much. Awesome, absolutely terrific. Now lets see how I cope with the next chappie.

Isabel
09/05/2007 12:41 am
Section IV - Dress Rehearsal         
I wonder what happened to Spike. I just hope he's OK wherever he is. I so love the relationship between Faith and Wesley. It's very sweet and she deserves it. I'm glad Dawn is being a little less stuborn. Hopefully, she'll give Buffy a chance to talk to her soon. I'm glad Willow and Xander are not being included. They annoy me. Selfish so called friends. Sorry, but saying it makes me feel better lol

Izzy
06/08/2007 10:23 pm
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This story has been amazing. All the things that frustrated me so badly on the show are being addressed, not changed, and I love how things are happening but letting it be realistic. Spike is an incredible, good man and I hope he gets everything he deserves, and if he loves Buffy, her too. But right now, all I can think is how will the author show a vampire with a soul whose sins have all been washed away. He was right to wonder, memory wipe? forgiveness? or is he some new incarnation with non-vampire powers? in his past, were the Slayers he would have to face in his memories going to affect him? There are so many fantastical possibilities!
Thanks so much for taking the time to review. It's been so long since I've been able to post - work commitments have taken over my personal life!!! - but I have been working on this story when I could. And we'll see Spike again soon, I promise. Your questions are all good ones, and I hope you'll be pleased by my interpretation. And you don't know how much I appreciated this review - it came at a time when I really needed some affirmation. Thanks! :)

01/30/2007 07:28 pm
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I found this story today. It's a wonderful read and hope you continue it.

kim
10/12/2006 08:49 am
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As for why we assume the First? It's a canon assumption, since you've come up to that time in the series, and used other series elements with some tweaks so far...so we just wonder if that's what's coming up until things point otherwise. :)
Thanks for explaining that, and it makes sense when you say it. I guess since I know where this little universe is headed specifically, it just never crossed my mind that others would lean more towards canon. But I've been looking back over the last two sections trying to find some hints toward the First, so I appreciate you filling me in. Now I can stop that and get back to writing the next section! :)

10/12/2006 06:13 am
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whoa! intense chapter, love...very well written...you've captured each character's emotions very well...looking forward to more :)
It was kind of intense to write this section, to be honest. Had a lot of fun with it, but struggled with a couple of viewpoints for a while there. Glad to know that it all came across well in the end. Thanks for taking the time to review! :)

10/12/2006 05:41 am
Section IV - Dress Rehearsal         
Buffy really has changed and seems to recognize the things that weren’t so positive in her friendships before. I like that she realizes that her relationship with Willow and Xander can’t be anything like it was before. Faith really is great to Buffy, recognizing how emotionally fragile she is and trying to help her. It’s amazing what some time and age can do to our perspectives. I really have enjoyed the emotion journey of this story and how drawn into each person’s perspective I become. As for the cliff-hanger, I am really looking forward to the explanation, thanks for such a great reading experience.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on each section, Robyn. To hear that you've been 'drawn into' the story is what a writer longs for, so I thank you for sharing that. Hope the next chapter "Intermission" will be as satisfying. :)

10/11/2006 10:38 pm
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Okie dokie....I meant NO surprise *G*.

I figured out that Spike and Joyce have traded spaces in some way and much as I love Joyce I expect Spike to return eventually. Then again...hope Willow doesn't get any bright ideas about trading Spike for Tara if she finds out about this!

Again...brilliant, completely brilliant.

Kathleen
Brilliant? Wow! Thank you. I'll try to live up to that. Hopefully the explanation behind 'the switch' will appease everyone. Got to get back to work on the next chapter. Ta! :)

10/11/2006 10:27 pm
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Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....woah! Did not see that coming AT ALL!

Love Giles in this story....terribly worried but not about Spike cause you wouldn't be so evil as to do in our boy...I'm worried about when this crisis has passed and Xander is in the mix (the loaded gun in the closet). Naturally Spike would undertake this quest. mp surprise there. Can't wait to find out how Joyce returned and where he is though.

This is a diamond of a story! Love, love, love it and can't wait for updates. Well done. I am breathless like I just got off a thrill ride and can't wait to ride again.

Kathleen
I know, evil cliffhangers! :] On the plus side, you're absolutely right...how can you do in 'our boy' when even Joss couldn't and had to bring him back! I hope you find the explanation behind the appearance of Joyce to be very satisfying. Look for it in the next chapter "Intermission" which should be up sooner rather than later. And I really appreciate the compliments - they thrilled me. :)

Lindy
10/11/2006 09:07 pm
Section IV - Dress Rehearsal         
Thanks for the update! You've given us so much to think about with this chapter. Glad your muse is back -- and that you are already working on the next section. Can't wait to see where this is headed.
I was hoping you'd see the update had posted, Lindy. Appreciate your continued support with this venture and hope all is well in your world. :)

jeanie
10/11/2006 06:47 pm
Section IV - Dress Rehearsal         
great story, so glad that there is so much of it to start with. i love it when there is several chapters to read at once. please update soon.
Thanks for the kind review, but I have to confess that it's been ten months from when I posted Section III till this posting. I lost my muse and was stymied for way too long. Glad you discovered it and have enjoyed it. Already at work on the next section and hope to have it up sooner rather than later. :)

10/11/2006 05:37 pm
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This is a really amazing story and I'm absolutely captivated. I look forward to finding out what happened. Thank you!
Amazing, captivated, really? What a huge wonderful compliment! Thank you so much! With feedback like that, I'll have to push to get the next update out as soon as possible. :)

kim
10/11/2006 03:30 pm
Section IV - Dress Rehearsal         
oh....he made an exchange...I have a feeling that this cleansing had something to with preventing the First from being able to play him...but then Joyce is here, so I'm not sure what's up now...only that it must be very important that she's here.

I squee-d and giggled over Wes and Faith's first date - that was awesome. They're so sweet!

Love that Giles has softened and grown up, too. Very proud of him.

Willow's not doing too bad...that's good. Xander is another story. That boy has issues the size of mountains.

Buffy's finally made enough progress that I'm not despising her anymore. Wary, though, like Dawn and Spike naturally are. It'll be interesting to see what Joyce does with the girls, and whether she already knows everything or not.
'he made an exchange' - I love you! You got it on the first try. It's been a key point that's been some time coming now and it affects the direction the rest of the story takes. I hope you'll be satisfied with how it plays out.
But I don't know what's up with everyone thinking it all has to do with The First?!? I hated that storyline and I promise that it falls no where in this tale. (Oh, well, you're still batting 50%)

Wes & Faith are fun, aren't they? And so different from the misery they both endured on the show. Considering how much they both matured and changed - especially compared to some of the key characters - I always thought they got a raw deal there.

Giles, Willow & Xander were - surprisingly enough - the trickiest parts to write for this section. I had the hardest time deciding whether or not to give any of them a voice and what that would be. That was actually a big part of the hold-up in writing this part. I had such a block with them that it just threw me completely off track and it wouldn't flow. Thankfully that's all settled now and I'm on a roll - already started the next section!

Buffy's growth had to be at a slow pace for it to take, and real change is gradual. I'm pleased to hear that you don't despise her anymore. That's been a goal of mine from the get-go - to transform a self-centered, selfish inconsiderate person to one that people could actually like enough to cheer for her. Anyway, I've rambled enough now. The next section - "Intermission" - is already in the works. Look for it soon. :)

Tonia
10/11/2006 03:09 pm
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I am so glad that your updating again. I really look forward to the next parts of your stories and I hope that they are up very soon.
I'm glad I'm updating again, too. It was frustrating to be stuck for so long. But I'm on a roll and already working on the next section - "Intermission" - which will be shorter than average and should be up much sooner than this last one! Thanks for sticking it out with me. :)

Tamara
10/11/2006 12:54 pm
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He is coming back, right? It'd be hard to make this a Spuffy story if he doesn't.
His return won't be what you're probably expecting, but I think it's a very satisfying turn to this story. Unfortunately, you have to wait for two more posts to see that. "Intermission" is next and I think you'll find it intriguing. Thanks for taking the time to review. :)

Veryenjoyable. :-)
05/08/2010 12:14 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
 

10/16/2007 11:48 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
dawn has grown considerably but she still is a hurt, angry teenager. hope buffy has matured enough to handle the situation very carefully. not going to try and comment on the wonderful way this tale is being told. am simple going to "borrow" the word brilliant. thanks for the read.

Isabel
09/04/2007 10:12 am
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Great scene between Faith and Buffy. So glad they got to talk and it went well. Now Dawn is another story...
I don't want to say this because she's supposed to be the good guy here but... what a little bitch. OK, feeling better. It's just that, she's willing to give a murderous Slayer a second chance--no offence to Faith, I do love her--but won't even give her own flesh and blood a second chance? It's not like Buffy tried to kill her or anything. And reality check here, she died to save her. Doesn't that make her deserve... maybe not a medal, but at least a chance to explain talk things through? To be fair, a lot of the things Dawn said makes sense and I can see why she would be afraid to let Buffy back in and risk ruining that little family she got. And the description Dawn made of Buffy's relationship with her friends was spot on. So I can't really blame the girl. But come on! I think the emancipation thing was enough to make her point heard loud and clear. She doesn't need to be such a bitch on top of everything.
Great chapter. Liked Elke. Very entertaining and again, well written. Very interesting original character. I wonder what she told Spike and why they're going back to Sunnydale.

10/12/2006 03:20 am
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Dawn, understandably so, really has a lot of anger towards her sister. I love that Faith and Buffy talked and were able to work through some things and that Buffy realizes that she has a lot of work to do with Spike and her sister.
Change is coming...but slowly. :)

10/11/2006 09:03 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Just found this story this morning and haven't done a thing but read since then! This is compelling and wonderfully written. I love the choices you have had the principles make. The point where it veres from canon is perfect for this. Really love this universe you have here. Going to read on...please keep writing this intriguing world.

Kathleen
And I thank you for all those great compliments. I'll have to stay on my toes to live up to your expectations from here on out. 'Compelling' put me on a cloud...when I come down, I'll continue with the next chapter "Intermission" which is already in the works. Ta! :)

kim
10/11/2006 02:02 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Loved Anya's POV. Loved Dawn's POV.

Scared as hell for Spike.
Anya is so cool. I wish I could talk that way myself sometimes. And Dawn is just very close to my heart with the relationship with her sister and the abandonment issues. Thanks for reviewing - it made me smile! :)

10/11/2006 11:55 am
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Glad that Buffy and Faith were able to put their differences aside and come to an understanding.I can total understand Dawn's feeling's about Buffy, felt that way myself many times as well. Very curios about what this imbrigatt is. I just don't want for Spike to get hurt again. Fabulous chapter, thanks for putting it out there.
Writing Dawn's perspective with this particular relationship was very personal for me. Glad that it translates well. Thanks for the compliments - 'fabulous' - that rocks! :)

06/03/2006 05:23 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
i wonder what's gonna happen next...please don't have abandoned this story, it's really awesome...i want to see buffy earn back her relationships, and see what happens to dawn and spike's new group...awesome story :)
Actually, I'm working on the next chapter currently. I lost my muse for a bit there and have just found her again. I have the story mapped out into the full eight sections...it's just a matter of getting the words together at this point. But I have definitely not abandoned this tale. Hope to have the next section up soon. Thanks again for your generous reviews! :)

05/16/2006 03:38 am
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
still lovin this fic and would love more of it :P
I'm actually working on the next section now. Lost my muse for a bit. Knew where I wanted it to go, but couldn't seem to find the flow. Spent most of that time working on The Kindred Series instead. But I have NOT forgotten this story. And I thank you for asking about it. Appreciate your input and thoughts. Hope to have the next section up soon. :)

Richard
03/23/2006 12:41 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
This setup is absolutely BRILLIANT. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Dawn is completely right to make Buffy take responsibility for her own actions.

As for the notion that Buffy was "just following orders", if this didn't work as an excuse at the Nuremberg tribunals, it must surely be considered ludicrous in Buffy's case.
Thank You for this very generous review. It's most gratifying to have your work referred to as "brilliant" - particularly by a reviewer who doesn't mince words. Hope that you continue to enjoy this story as it progresses. :)

12/27/2005 02:38 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
I am loving this yarn. Still think Dawn is a whiny bitch who doesn't get that everybody else told Buffy who to like and how to behave, especially after they brought her back from heaven. I agree that Buffy needs some bitch slapping but I think Spike should be the one to do it, not Dawn. More story please.
I think it's safe to say that both Buffy and Dawn still have a lot of growing up to do. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my tale thus far. Hope you continue to enjoy as the story progresses.

LindaM
12/27/2005 10:48 am
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
I'd read the first parts elsewhere and am thrilled to see it continued here. I love absolutely everything about this story. It's the best possible sequence of events after 'Deadthings' which is when that relationship should have ended. I love the Spike and Dawn. I love Dawn going after Spike. That's the clever girl we saw in Season 5. I love that they have taken in Wesley and Faith. And their new life and business together. I love the Spike and Angel bonding because that's the only way you can make me like Angel. And I love how Buffy has gotten better and made friends with Anya the vengeance demon. I've come to the conclusion that Xander, Willow and Buffy were bad for each other. At least, as long as they insist on excluding others. And the details like Buffy and the phone calls, Faith and the doors, Anya and the magazines, etc. are wonderful. I just love it. And that's saying a lot because I've been leaning towards Spaith as my OTP and you could have done that here, but didn't. Part III was kind of hard to read through all the tears though.
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for going into such expressive detail. I enjoy writing this story, but it's taxing at times. I will confess to shedding a few tears when writing Section III. I have the rest of this story mapped out already, and I hope to have the next part up soon. Thanks again for the compliments!

jane
12/26/2005 07:22 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
I am really chuffed to see you've started on the next part of this fic. I absolutely love it, no ifs no buts no maybes it's brilliant. I do feel sorry for Buffy, I know she's screwed up in the past, but so have all the others. It can't be even a year since she had to dig her way out of her own grave and had the weight of the world dumped back on her shoulders. I think most people would have ended up in a looney bin, Buffy didn't even get counselling. For all her new found maturity Dawn's still a little girl deep down. I can't wait for more.
Wow! I don't know that anyone has ever referred to my writing as brilliant before. I was on a cloud all day after reading that. Thank You! And you totally got to the heart of the matter with Dawn. Yay. I'm working on the next section and actually have the rest of the story mapped out. With all this enthusiasm, I'm going to work hard to live up to expectations. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Max
12/26/2005 01:25 pm
Section III - Understanding Character Motivation         
Very interesting - I wonder what all Spike has to do? I'm glad you didn't go do the mushy big reunion where everything is immediately forgiven and forgotten that tends to happen in post mid-S6 Spuffy stories - I HATE it when authors do that because it's so unrealistic and well basically juvenile (it's just missing the fairy tale "and they all lived happily ever after"). After the S6 affair took an extremely dark turn for the worse with the blatent use and abuse and explosive ending, there was a ton of crap that Buffy and Spike would have had to work through for any real relationship between them to work out, realistically speaking. Along those lines, I absolutely hated the whole 'Angel is my soulmate crap' because the entire Buffy/Angel relationship is so damn childish - that relationship had no real or solid basis, it was hormones and and fairy-tale crap where they got it in their head that they were right for each other and NEVER grew out of it. Hell, those two didn't even really know each other - Buffy ignored a HUGE part of Angel as well as his entire past (his time as a human included) meanwhile, Angel had her up on this pedestal and the entire relationship was on his terms and his only and Buffy just went along with it in her own little world cause he's her "soul-mate" (kinda strange for a show that promoted "girl-power" isn't it?). Is it any wonder why Angelus was so insane and obsessed with hurting and killing Buffy in BtVS S2 and not so much in AtS S4 when he no longer had to deal with that realtionship? He was still pure evil and hated Buffy but there was a distinct difference between the two times Angelus emerged. One would think that he would have at least made some effort to hurt Buffy given his actions the first time around and the fact she SENT HIM TO HELL - but no, even with Buffy sending him to hell, Angelus was still more concerned about hurting the LA gang instead of running off to torture Buffy. Was I the only one who noticed that particular point?
Just logged on and saw the reviews. Max, thank you for taking the time to respond to each section! I totally agree with you on the Angel/Buffy "soulmate" bit. Give me a break, please! Those two deluded themselves and everyone else - including many fans of the show - into thinking theirs was a true and forever love, when it was more like an obsession you never quite shake. Move on, already, and get on with your life or unlife as the case may be. Anyway, thank you for the enthusiasm on this story. I've got two works in progress currently and this one is much harder to write. Making sure you're in the right voice for each character and that the story is progressing is a lot of work. Sometimes I have a point I'm working on and I suddenly realize that the wrong character is making it and have to totally change gears. Had I known how involved it would be, I don't know that I ever would have started it. I'm glad I did, but it's a labor of love. I do have the rest of the story mapped out and am currently working on the next section. Will try to have it up as soon as possible. It's a shame that work and life get in the way, ya know.

Cool. So wish it was a finished work. :-)
05/08/2010 03:38 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
 

10/16/2007 08:57 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
very powerful read, thank you. the maturity of the characters is wonderful. (well maybe not buffy.) but the evil author bring in joyce and ending the chapter, that is another matter entirely. thank s again for the great read.

Isabel
09/04/2007 09:14 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
Excellent chapter. My heart went to Buffy. It must have been so hard to face Dawn. I'm not sure I would have had to courage myself after being rejected by her sister the way she was. Like I said before, always loved Buffy, always will, no matter her faults. In fact, I find Dawn's attitude a little... extreme? Just a tad. I'm glad things turned out so well for Wes. He deserves it. And so does Spike. It's nice to see Spike surrounded by love. Especially after the way the Scoobies treated him. Connor's rescue was great. Loved it.

10/12/2006 02:49 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
I love that Buffy found friendship with Anya. The family unit that Dawn, Wes, and Spike formed is great as is the addition of Faith. What a change Connor not being poisoned by Holtz will be as will Angle and Cordy already admitting there feelings. I like how well you have stayed with the original story line while showing the changes brought about because of Dawn and Spike being in LA.
I always felt that the show was more angsty than was necessary in several instances - Connor being taken to Quortoth and coming back hating Angel was a big one. I'm glad you like the way this is going. Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)

10/11/2006 03:38 pm
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
Wow, anothr really great chapter with lots of action and progress. Love your Wes and Faith. What next?
I'll admit that I'm having lots of fun writing Wes & Faith together. Read on to see what comes next. Hope you continue to enjoy! Thanks for reviewing. :)

kim
10/11/2006 12:49 pm
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
May? Wow...rest in peace, Tara.

Ten years????? OMG....

Still want Buffy to suffer horrible pain. She's so self-absorbed, except for now with Anya, I guess, that it makes me sick. I hope she ultimately leaves our little group alone, because all that girl brings with her is pain.

Good for Anya, though. She always deserved more than she'd been given credit for. Respect, love, acceptance...she tried her best to be part of things and learn and grow, and even Xander never gave her acknowledgement for how far she came. Now as a vengeance demon again, she's got her old confidence back, and that's good to see.

I'm expecting Willow and Xander to probably be very close, maybe reignited old feelings while they were gone. It happens to people removed from home together. I always wanted to see Giles with Anya more than Xander, anyway, after watching Tabula Rasa.

Yay! Connor's back home, and Angel can finally start healing. And forgiving. And the boy was saved from Holtz as a baby - Hallelujah! He and Cordy are together...very happy about that, too.

Faith has been brought into the home - awesome. Knew that Wes would see the grown-up version of her as a major babe. Those two had great chemistry on Angel, whatever was going on. So happy for Faith to have a home - first time ever.

OMG - Joyce came to Spike in a dream, from the Powers? Whoa...and now they have to deal with the First. Oh, crap!! Hee hee, Spike...if you loved Dru that much for a hundred years, why would ten make you not feel for Buffy? Just not how you're made, buddy. Feel sorry for you there, though.
The time differences threw you for a minute, didn't they? I loved what that one detail allowed me to do with my characters and their relationships. Glad you seem to like the individual story lines so much. Anya was always one of my faves - love that girl's honesty. Curious to see what you think of Xander & Willow when I do re-introduce them. Having lots of fun with Wes & Faith, which is so radically different from the misery each of them experienced on the show. You're not the first person (no pun intended) that commented on how the dream sequence was foreshadowing The First, and I honestly don't know where that's coming through. I hated the whole storyline with The First and I promise that will not be part of my story, but seriously...what's suggesting that to people? :P

10/11/2006 11:23 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
What was great! Angel has Connor back and Faith and Wesley seem to be hitting it off. Very glad that Buffy was so terribly uncomfortable around them all, she still has a lot to pay for. Not a big fan of fics with POV's but I'm really enjoying this one. Spike doesn't have much of a chance to say no when Joyce is asking for help. Excellent Fic, thanks for the read.
Thanks for taking the time to review each section. I really appreciate the attention to detail. Hope you like where I'm going with this. :)

06/03/2006 05:10 pm
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
whoa...now joyce entering the picture...another excellent chapter, very engaging and moving ... love every last bit of it...standing out to me is anya's and buffy's friendship...awesome and incredible! great chapter :)
I always thought Anya and Buffy should be friends. They're both strong women and should have connected at that level long ago. Thanks for the review! :)

Max
12/26/2005 04:41 am
Section II - Backdrops & Props         
That's one hell of a cliffhanger there >:(
Hopefully the next chapters will leave you wanting also. If not, then I'm obviously not doing my job. Thanks for taking the time to review. :)

10/16/2007 07:51 am
Section I - Setting the Stage         
thank any and all deities for the random story box. absolutely fantastic beginning. do not know what to single out for comment: the fantastic pov approach; spike's decision; the wonderful dawn you wrote; or your words forcing in me to reevaluate my attitude towards angel. very powerful read, thank you.

isabel
09/04/2007 08:05 am
Section I - Setting the Stage         
Wow. Just... Wow. I don't know where to start. I am very impressed with this story so far. And to think I almost passed on reading it because I thought firt person narating was too strange. You changed my mind pretty fast. It is so well written. I love the way you portray Dawn. Positive, strong, loving, independant and determined. She never had a chance to shine on the show. They made her too childish for a sixteen year-old, especially compared to Buffy at the same age who was independant, dating and doing her own thing. I never understood that. You righted a lot of wrongs in the story. You even made me like Angel. You made him sound so much more mature and understanding. I like this version of Angel, could even grow to love him.
Even though a big part of me is chanting "she had it coming", I feel really bad for Buffy. Always loved the girl, flaws and all. Yes, she should stew a little for the way she treated Spike--karma is a bitch--but with idiot friends, Spike leaving, and now, Dawn turning her back on her... I can't help but feel bad. Amazing story!

10/12/2006 02:10 am
Section I - Setting the Stage         
I love how you are doing this story in first person from the different POV’s. I know this isn’t popular but I have always felt sorry for s6 Buffy. What she did to Spike was beyond horrible and I’m not excusing any of it although he did enable her abuse of him. I like that here he did find the strength to walk away, that Dawn found out the truth and called her sister on it, and that even though Tara is still there for Buffy she doesn’t excuse what she did. Xander is really not that great of a friend to Buffy, he holds her to higher standards and looks down on her if she slips at all and I think you showed that in this chapter. Willow is a better friend but her need to fix and control and her unwillingness to accept that maybe what she did wasn’t the best is also damaging. I feel you really did a great job of showing these different relationships and the way you showed Buffy was perfectly illustrated her emptiness inside as well as the fact that she wants to reconnect she just doesn’t know how.
I felt sorry for Buffy from the first episode, to be honest - the isolation brought on by her role, the weight of being responsible for the safety of others, having to hide who she was...all that must have been very hard to bear, especially for a 16-year old. Even so, I never felt that she adjusted very well to all aspects of being the Slayer, and her friends didn't exactly help her out much there, ya know? The demands and expectations would have gotten to her sooner or later, but the whole death & resurrection bit just compounded all that. Even so, you're right, everyone has to own up to their actions and face the consequences before they can move forward. That's a big part of what I'm trying to show here...well, that and how people can change. Thanks for the detailed review. :)

kim
10/11/2006 11:51 am
Section I - Setting the Stage         
OMG, I am so in love with this story. You've already made me cry with happiness for Spike being so well recepted.

As for Buffy - die, die, die! LOL....maybe not yet...but 5 days? Ooo, she's lucky I wsn't there to find out about all that.
Thanks for being so enthusiastic! Appreciate that greatly! Hopefully I'll be able to show Buffy's growth journey in a light where she won't be quite so hateful...don't know if I can accomplish that in 5 days or not!? Thanks for reviewing. :)

10/11/2006 10:40 am
Section I - Setting the Stage         
What a marvelous idea for a fic. I'm so grateful that you took Spikes abuse and made it into something that he could walk away from. She didn't deserve him.I've always hated that part of S6. All he wanted to do was take care of her and love her and she was such a bitch. If it wasn't that he loved her so much she could have left the show and I won't of cared. They belong together, that's why I only read Spuffy, I was just don't always like her. Very proud of Angel and the way that he took Spike in and took care of him. Allowed him to heal and made sure he had safe passage and funds for along the way. Glad that Spike made friends while he was there. I'm most proud of Dawn and the way she stood up to her sister and went to LA and Wes. Having used Lilah to make it legal was brilliant. How could Buffy go up against W&H with the little resources that she had. Now Spike's back and not only Dawn but Angel and Wes will need is help. Don't know if I wanted to read this at first and I'm so thankful that I did. Wonderful fic and I thank you for the read.
I didn't like S6 Buffy very much either, but I do like Spuffy. It always bothered me that there was so much room for personal growth with multiple characters that was rarely explored. Kind of why I wrote this piece. Glad that you decided to take a chance on this story and enjoyed it. :)

06/03/2006 04:59 pm
Section I - Setting the Stage         
i love this...i love the idea of dawn and spike and wes and their business...i love your characterizations here they are flawless, and the emotion you write into them is heart-wrenchingly real...i really have no words to express how deeply this story touches me...off to read more :)
Thank you so much for the kind review. This story is near and dear to my heart in more ways than one. I'm glad that it has affected you so, and thanks again for taking the time to comment. :)

12/25/2005 11:45 pm
Section I - Setting the Stage         
OH yeah was reading this over at the Crypt, the story freakin rocks :P More soon??
Thank you very much, redwulf50. I happen to think your stuff is pretty tight. Time Tossed is one of my faves and Love Lost is a great companion piece so far. I do have the rest of The Path Less Traveled mapped out already. If life would just calm down and let me have the time I need to do everything, it would be nice. Hope to have the next part up soon.

Max
12/25/2005 11:04 pm
Section I - Setting the Stage         
This is really good - Spike's also acting alot more realistic than on the show by leaving when he did instead of staying in SD.
Can we say co-dependent regarding his actions on the show? Give us all a break, stand up for yourself, and get the hell out of an abusive relationship while you can still walk. As you may have guessed, I have rather strong feelings on that subject regardless of the kind of abuse taking place. Making that one choice to walk away is the reason any abused person can have a better life. Thanks for taking the time to comment on Spike's actions in this story. :)