1. Chapter 1. Impressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 41] (2928 words)
This is the super-secret project I’ve been working on. I have to warn you that this is not my usual writing style but my muse wanted to experiment, so I beg your patience and forgiveness for any fall-outs I might have.



That said, I want to thank my lovely friend and beta, Im_bloody_English, for keeping me going even if there are times I feel like I’m way over my head with this, for your advice and for being there for me whenever I’ve needed you. I truly couldn’t do this without your help, sweetie. *smooches* Thanks to Marzbar for the quick edit and Tammy and Kitty, for reading it and reassuring me that this wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.

2. Chapter 2. Constructivism by dusty273 [Reviews - 29] (4486 words)
A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed the first chapter. I didn’t expect the response I got over this story and I’m floored by your kindness. I just hope I don’t disappoint with the follow-up. As always thank you to my lovely friend, Im_bloody_English, for betaing this chapter for me, helping me plot the rest of the story and keeping me in line. ;) Luv you, sweetie! *smooches* And a special thank you to MarzBar and Tammy for the read-through.

3. Chapter 3. Expressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 26] (3548 words)
A huge thank you for the reviews for the last chapter, I promise I'll answer to them later today, but I wanted to let you know that it makes me very happy to know that you're enjoying this story. A million thanks to my lovely friend, Im_bloody_English, for all her help with this chapter. I'd truly be lost without you, darling. *huggles* And a special thank you to MarzBar for betaing this chapter for me and to Tammy for the read-through.

4. Chapter 4. Surrealism by dusty273 [Reviews - 31] (3151 words)
See below.

5. Chapter 5. Realism by dusty273 [Reviews - 30] (1774 words)
See below.

6. Chapter 6. Romanticism (Part One) by dusty273 [Reviews - 22] (3049 words)
See below.

7. Chapter 7. Neo-Impressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 33] (3247 words)
I’m so very sorry for the delay on posting this. Life has been… hectic to say the least and my muse disappeared for a little bit. She’s back now, though, (finally) and with the aid of my lovely Im_bloody_English who came to my rescue, next chapter is almost halfway done, so it shouldn’t take me as long to post it as it took me for this one.


Onto very good news, I’m still in awe TAoI won for Most Original Plot at the Feeling Love Awards. It was such a lovely surprise and I want to thank each and every one that voted for this story. *smooches*


As always, thank you to all of you reading and especially to those reading and reviewing. I’ll answer to those as soon as I can, but I want you to know I appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think of the story. Thank you to my sweet Im_bloody_English, for being there for me, especially yesterday when I was feeling so moody and for all your help with this story. *snuggles* And of course to my lovely friend Tammy, for reading the chapter and assuring me it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Gorgeous banner by m_ravensblood

8. Chapter 8. Romanticism (Part Two) by dusty273 [Reviews - 42] (5345 words)

9. Chapter 9. Romanticism (Part Three) by dusty273 [Reviews - 31] (4011 words)
Sorry for the delay in updating this story, but my muse needed a break after being completely focused on it for so long. It’s an intense story and it does take a lot out of me to write it. However, I have to say it seems the break did the muse good, since a new turn has her (and me) all excited, so much so, I think I’ll be focusing solely on this one for a few chapters. *crosses fingers*



Thank you all for your lovely reviews. I truly appreciate each and every one of them, even if at times I don’t answer them as fast as I should. Knowing you’re enjoying this story and letting me know, makes me a very happy girl.



Thank you to my lovely Im_bloody_English, your help is invaluable to me. *snuggles* And to Tammy for the read-through.

Gorgeous banner by m_ravensblood.

10. Chapter 10. Neo-Romanticism by dusty273 [Reviews - 18] (4463 words)
Gorgeous banner by m_ravensblood

11. Chapter 11. Abstract Expressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 42] (2593 words)
Sorry for the weird formatting from before, the new format was killing me, let's hope it works now.

12. Chapter 12. Post-Impressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 42] (3992 words)
After almost a month here you have the next chapter. I went through hell to get it done. At first I was drained after writing chapter 11, then I started writing some scenes for the next chapter, went away on vacation to Antigua (which was delicious, btw), then muse decided to be difficult and disappeared for almost two weeks. Believe me when I say I was beyond frustrated at not being able to write… at all. Oh well, it’s over now *clings to muse* and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry for the long wait.

As always, a thousand thanks to all of you who take the time to read and review. You wouldn’t believe how much your comments helped, especially while trying to get over my writer’s block. Thank you especially to Jane, who let me know I had messed up when I posted the last time, I can't answer you individually since I erased the chapter, so I do it here. Thank you to my lovely IBE, who took the time to beta this chapter for me and for being there for me, even with her hubby at home. Love you, darling! *smooches* And to Tammy for the read-through and assuring me it wasn’t as choppy as I thought it was. *hugs*

13. Chapter 13. Pointillism by dusty273 [Reviews - 25] (2649 words)
I’m so sorry again for the long wait in between postings, but this time it couldn’t be helped. My dad was sick all last week and between that and having to take care of the office, I just couldn’t write at all. Dad is all better now though, so finally I could whip another chapter into submission for your viewing pleasure.

As always, a thousand thanks to all of you who keep reading and reviewing. It truly makes my day to know you’re still enjoying this story. I promise I'll respond to the ones for the last chapter tomorrow. And a special thank you to my darling IBE, without your help, enthusiasm and motivation this story wouldn’t be what it is. *smooches*


Just a reminder: Voting is open at The Feeling Love Awards, so if you feel inclined to vote for this story or whichever of the wonderful stories nominated, you can do so at: http://thefeelingloveawards.blood-desires.co.uk/Voting%20Form.html until Midnight GMT on November 30th.

14. Chapter 14. Rococo by dusty273 [Reviews - 27] (3348 words)
Thank you all for the reviews, I'm delighted you enjoyed the glimpse into Spike's past and the beginning of what I have planned for Riley. *evil grin*

A huge thank you to my darling friend, IBE, I truly would be lost without you. *huggles* And to Tammy, for the read-through.

Gorgeous banner by m_ravensblood

15. Chapter 15. Baroque by dusty273 [Reviews - 30] (2239 words)
This time the lateness is all my fault. Well, my muse’s a bit, too, I guess. ;) She’s been working on two scenes for latter chapters, so it wasn’t until those were almost done that she allowed me to return to this one. Sorry it’s a short chapter, but to make up for it the next few would be extra-long I promise, although I can’t make any promises when I’m going to update at the moment.



Thank you as always to the marvelous IBE, for keeping me in the straight and narrow, for being so very helpful and encouraging and for taking the time to beta this chapter for me. *smooches* To Tammy for the read-through and encouraging words. And of course to all of you who keep reading, reviewing and encouraging my muse with this story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. *huggles* Hope you enjoy!

16. Chapter 16. Gothic by dusty273 [Reviews - 21] (3806 words)
Happy New Year to all my lovely readers/reviewers! Hope you enjoy the next installment in the story that doesn’t want to end. ;) Spike and Buffy keep whispering all kind of things to lengthen the story. *sighs* Hope you don’t mind too much? Although we’re really nearing the end now, just 4 more chapters (I hope)
)


Thank you as always to all of you who take the time to review. They brighten my days. And lots of hugs to my lovely IBE, I really, really appreciate your time, your help and just for being your adorable self. Love you, darling! Thanks as well to OKDeanna for the read through.

17. Chapter 17. Fauvism by dusty273 [Reviews - 21] (4569 words)
Can you believe I wrote another chapter already? Yeah, neither can I. *giggles* I do hope you all enjoy it, though. I wasn’t going to post it until tomorrow, but the lovely Sotia wanted to read it today, so here it is. Thank you very much for everything again, cariño! *hugs*



Thanks for the awesome reviews for the last chapter, I do love reading and answering to all of them. *hugs* And a huge, enormous hug to my darling IBE, without her coaching, encouraging and her excellent betaing skills this chapter wouldn’t be half as good. *smooches* And to Tammy and OKDeanna for the read-through. *snuggles*

18. Chapter 18. Symbolism by dusty273 [Reviews - 25] (5175 words)
I owe answers to your lovely reviews and I will get to them asap, I promise. Thing is muse has have me sequestered writing. She’s one very demanding girl and I can’t do anything but give in to her when she’s in one of her rare moods. In the meantime, I wish to thank all of you who are still with me in this adventure and especially to those who take the time to leave me a review. Your kind words are like fuel for my muse.


Mil gracias to my very sweet friend IBE, I truly couldn’t do this without you. Your encouragement, your advices, suggestions and edits are invaluable for me. I love you, darling and I truly give thanks everyday for meeting you. *smooches*


I had planned on the story being 20 chapters long, and while I hadn’t thought the preparations would take me this long, my muse had another ideas. I hope you enjoy it though!

19. Chapter 19. Neo Expressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 33] (3945 words)
A huge, immense thank you to my amazing readers, The Art of Immortality won Reader's Choice at Spuffy Awards for Most Original Plot, tying with Echoes by the lovely Holly and a Judge's Pick, as well. I'm in awe, since Echoes is one of my favorite stories and well, while I don't think AoI is as good, I thank you all anyway from the bottom of my heart. You made my day!


Again my apologies for not having finished answering your lovely reviews, I will, I promise. I love them all and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for each of them. I’m a bad, bad girl, but perhaps you’ll forgive me when I tell you I haven’t only finished this chapter, but the next one as well. *bats eyelashes*


Thank you so very much to my lovely IBE, without whom I truly would have given up before this. For her encouragement, telling me it didn’t suck when I thought it did and for everything, especially being her sweet self, I dedicate this chapter to her. I truly can’t thank you enough, honey. Love you to pieces, my little sister!

For those who missed it here's the real ending to the last chapter.

20. Chapter 20. Post Neo-Expressionism by dusty273 [Reviews - 35] (5732 words)
I’m truly in awe at the response over the chapter, thank you so very much to each and every one of you. I really didn’t expect you to be so understanding and passionate on your responses (hence the hiding), I should’ve, I know, you all have been nothing but patient and nice to me from the start. I know I’ve teased you quite a bit with the perfect night issue, and it is coming on Chapter 21, which I’m already writing and hope to post by next week. *crosses fingers* After that one, I think just one more chapter and this puppy will be done. *sniffs* So no more evil cliffhangers. *pouts* I love my cliffhangers.



On other news, go me! I finally finished answering reviews. I know, I know, it was time already that I got to those. *giggles*



As always, mil gracias to my hermanita, IBE, for being her sweet self and helping me so much with this chapter. Be it correcting my boo-boo’s, offering awesome and insightful advice, keeping my muse in line, encouraging me and trying to convince me to write instead of playing, she’s truly one in a kind and I can’t thank her enough for everything she does for me. I love you, cariño! *smooches*

21. Chapter 21. Renaissance by dusty273 [Reviews - 20] (4836 words)
After almost a month I finally finished this chapter, it took me longer than I expected, mostly because I lacked inspiration for it. Against All Odds came to save my muse from disappearing altogether, a welcome reprieve from RL stuff, which seems to finally be getting better. I want to thank each and every one of you who’ve taken the time to read this story, but especially to those who’ve reviewed. Your support, encouragement and patience throughout the story have been the fuel my muse has fed up from and I truly appreciate every one of your words from the bottom of my soul.


Thank you as well to my very lovely sister, IBE, without her this story wouldn’t be half of what it is. Always encouraging me to try my very best, even when I thought I simply couldn’t, even when I felt way over my head with it. I can’t—and never will be able to—thank you enough for that and for everything, cariño. Love you to the end of the universe and back. *hugs you tight* Thank you as well to my adorable friends, Sotia and OKDeanna for being my test readers for parts of this chapter and assuring me it wasn't as bad as I thought it was.

22. Chapter 22. Classical Art by dusty273 [Reviews - 36] (3981 words)
Thank you very much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I’m glad Spike and Buffy’s perfect night met up with your expectations. Un millón de gracias a mi hermanita, IBE, without her this story wouldn’t be what it is. I don’t have words to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate all your help with this story. Te amo, cariño. *besos* Thank you as well to the wonderful Deanna, Tammy, MarzBar and Sotia, all who in several occasions stepped into the plate to help me iron out details, edit or assure me what my muse had planned out was appropriate for the story. Really couldn’t have done it without your support, ladies. *snuggles*