I think I avoided this back in the day because it was a WIP, but I finished it today, and it's brilliant.

I'm just skipping everything until they're out of the cemetery. it's too long, too many stupid decisions, and it'll probably all be summarized later anyway

also, thank God the idiot noticed the capitalization finally. feels like you made him intentionally stupid to squeeze out another chapter before they figured anything out.

good story, not sure why it's in a bamf xander group tho. sounds like same old angsty xander so far

Incredible. Bravo.

A very enjoyable story. I'll be looking in to the author's other posts with anticipation. Sadly if the other has not posted since 2015.
Thanks for having posted.

LOL, I never liked Robin (never liked Spike much either but that's beside the point) and I REALLY think he needs to get knocked down a few dozen pegs. Arrogant asshole...

Yeah, they WERE orders. But Xander doesn't 'order' very often, usually he listens and suggests or asks. So that makes it all the more serious and listened do when he DOES order. IMHO, anyway.

I'm so impressed how you can make this story funny but at the same time be showing serious issues, and showing Xander, Faith, and the others as the complicated people they are and not just what is shown on the surface. Excellent writing!

OMG, I know I've read this before, quite some time ago, but I forgot how funny it is. My hubby keeps giving me funny looks because I keep cracking up!

On my umpteenth read-through, I finally saw 'IT'!

Oh, Liz, you sneaky writer, you!

Catherine's story about Xander's line to Faith, when he was suffering from that poison, "I trust you".

This chapter, right here, you give us the true meaning of that sentence. Faith, apologizing to him about her attempt on his life, stating that she knows he'll never trust her. And him, in pain and hallucinating, yet seeing her as she is, making her believe he thinks she's a monster, yet, even so, telling her that he TRUSTS HER!

Such a tangled web you weave. If only Catherine had been privy to this conversation...

I know that, in response to someone writing that you're the Queen of F/X on your LJ in the comments under your Heart in Darkness story, you claimed to not see it because your stories are all non-romance.

Well, guess what?

Your stories feel more real that a straight-up F/X romance story. They form the foundation of what could be...

Like here, the messy, aggravating, pain-filled well of uncertainty where everyone is just existing, trying to put one foot in front of the other without dealing with the emotional fallout of the recent past. The characters need to get past all of it, deal with it, to begin the healing. And we see that finally happening, slowly, with the tentative, uncertain moves of the players trying to move beyond the pain. Faith's confession here is just perfect because it rings true and they needed that to go beyond what they had before.

Again, fantastic story. I don't know how many times I've read it and your others. I'm only saddened that you never finished the other stories, like Facing The Heart in Darkness or Water hold me Down, because especially the former only had three chapters to go.

No matter, I absolutely adore this story.

Reading the end of Ch38 and Finally he gets the map directions. I was screaming at my screen cause it was obvious to me. Lol great writing! Loving this so far and can't wait to see where it goes from here!

50 chapters in and I

50 chapters in and the action starts, and I suddenly realize I've just read 50 chapters of straight dialogue.

Your story is... well, not good.

Sorry, but in the first place you put too much effort into demonizing both Robin and Wells. Yes, they are kind of dicks, but the fact that you go on and on about it, you make the other characters focus on it and so on, it gets trying after a couple of chapters.

In the second, you have a terrible sense of time and pacing. Either it goes too slowly or too fast and while your characterization fo Buffy dialogue is quite remarkable, you take it too far. Yes, they could go on tangent every so often and it was one of the charming points of the series, but they could have normal conversations, they actually snarked instead of just insulting each other and they were no so oblivious. You response of "they have traumas" is a good one, but that doesn't mean it gets taxing reading you go in circles constantly.

But the worst part: the lack of future/present comparison. Yes, they must maintain the timeline protected, but the fact that between them don't speak about the situation that should be normal, don't make but the most barebones comparisons or even in their minds they keep cutting themselves off center it's just too plastic, so obvious that it's for the plot "surprises" that, for me at least, cuts me off from the narrative. You are trying too hard to maintain the secret and plot twists when it is simple unnatural that it should happen.

Great Idea, poor execution.

My absolute respect that you continued writing up to 70 chapters. That's impressive for any kind of writer.

Have a nice day.