What a roller-coaster ride! Mid-way thru, I felt the story was getting fluffy, and it didn't fit what had gone before (the sustained note of grief). I kept reading, though (always trust your author!). And as I read, the different bits of the story, so very different from each other, seemed as if they shouldn't fit together--at times, there's a jangly, discordant feeling to the fic.

And yet...
In the end, they *do* fit. It all fits. And the jangly bits work; more than that, they ought to be there, being there is part of what makes this fic so good. The fic feels jangly because it *has to*. Think about it: William out of his time, Buffy grieving, everyone else trying to put lives and Council back together.

In the end, nothing is resolved in the sense of being finished, closed off, but there is a sense of resolution, of the peace that comes with a measure of acceptance. Buffy is still grieving, but that desperate edge is gone. The world is getting THE Slayer back. William has a friend and is making his way into the world, having found work more suited to him than he could ever imagine.

I can picture Buffy starting to talk about Spike with her friends, now, sharing what she knew of him and the kind of person he was behind the facade. I can picture William discovering the strength he doesn't yet know he has. I can even picture him being a good influence on Xander, strange as that seems.

And in the future, who knows what might happen? Except...the universe holds immutable laws. One of them is that Spike will always love Buffy. William isn't Spike, but the advantage of being the reader is that we can see what the characters do not--that there is more of Spike in William than anyone realizes. Enough for Buffy? Maybe... But we need a sequel, one set a few years in the future. What *would* Spike look like, if his personality after being turned (which he kinda was) were shaped by constant exposure to Xander, rather than to Angelus and Dru?

Thank you for this fic. It was a great read--absorbing, suspenseful, surprising, and in the end, satisfying, with an unusual quiet maturity. I know this is one I'll re-read.

" I'll be Xan-man and you can be Victorian Boy. " Hee. Excellent story. I've read agnsty stories that leave char. in an unhappy place. This is good, since Buffy and William are moving on. And the photo and "dream" are a nice touch.

I'm kind of surprised it went there so soon, but I guess the trip to the magic shop and Amelia set her right.

hee Star Wars. I like ewoks.

hee, adnuseum: the man who was not Spike.
I like Xander in this fic.

I like th story. I like how you wrote Willow. Buffy is at a bad place, but that's not surprising.

This is great! Can't wait to read more :o) :o)

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting! :)

Happened to click to read other reader's reviews and I noticed you've quoted my review in your response to me. Did I say something wrong? Lol...

Author's Response: ...it cut off my response for some reason. Fortunately, my browser saved it: "I've never really liked reading those, because I felt that William is essentially the fundamentals of Spike." Oh, brilliant way to phrase it. Sheesh, I could have just written that and skipped writing the whole fic to demonstrate that point. ;) I'm glad you enjoyed it. A sequel is a possibility, though I have other stories I'm working on right now. We'll see. Thanks so much for commenting! :)

Very nice story. I actually found it quite refreshing that a clear distinction between Spike and William was made. That, even though he looks like him, William is *not* Spike.

A little bittersweet, but like I said, refreshing. I can't honestly remember the last time a story has made me tear up a little. Kudos for writing such great work. Can't wait to see more from you! :)

Author's Response: I love exploring the line between William and Spike. So much potential there. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for commenting! :)

I loved how you showed us a hint of Spike in William and even a small glimpse of William in Spike. This was definitely a bittersweet story but I think it showed Buffy that a man like Spike is more to her taste. I thought I would be a little surprised by the ending, but I wasn't. Buffy again showed that the need of others came before herself.
An interesting "What If" story would be if Buffy learns of Spike's return and they get together and he learns of his 'other self' wandering the earth.
Thank you for a touching story.

Author's Response: You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) There is a possibility there might be a sequel in the future (other people have asked), though I have some other projects I want to focus on for the moment. We'll see. :)

I read this on another website and thought it was so sad but, at the same time, so lovely. There was a part of me that really wanted a different ending but think one, though bittersweet, does fit!

Author's Response: I would love to have had Buffy stay with William, but I couldn't find a way to do so and stay faithful to the characters. It just wasn't meant to be, I'm afraid. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting! :)