Post Chosen/Cleveland - Spike stays aloof/apart and Buffy, Faith, and new slayers detect him there

I moved this from another thread as a search on it's own.

Asked by theelfherself

So maybe I don't get the hang of the search feature, because I try keywords, like Cleveland and don't find the fics I am looking for. There is another post BtVS series Cleveland Hellmouth fic where Buffy is there with Faith and newbie slayers. It's winter, Spike is around and they aren't sure if he's on their side. And something about a dress, I think. Dang, my memory is shot. Any ideas?

Yeah, it was cold out, and he hung out in the shadows, didn't contact them, they couldn't figure out if he was good or evil for awhile. That's what I remember most about it. It was very evocative, those cold winter nights patrolling, seeing signs of Spike and being concerned, wondering about him...

First of all, I don't always have good luck with search either even though I know for a fact that a subject has been addressed so I feel your pain. That said, I also know I've read this fic before but sadly cannot recall the name or author. It was a really good author, though, and a long fic. I'd really like to figure out which one it was so if anyone know who wrote it and/or what it's called I'd also appreciate the information. Thanks.

Might it be ZennJenn's "Third Time's a Charm"? It at the Crypt.

Sadly, no that's not it. No Angel. Buffy and Faith are the primary characters in the beginning, not Spike. Buffy notices someone is in the night, in the shadows, killing things, I think drawing on buildings (?), etc. Very mysterious. Then they run into Spike but he doesn't approach them, he keeps away from them. This makes them wonder at his motives and purpose there.

Such a good story and I cannot figure out which one it is. Frustrating.

What was Spike drawing on buildings - Something special? Like pictures of Buffy?

(I saw a post at seeking_ spike once but in this story Spike had amnesia.) I haven't read it properly so I can't say that this is the one but this is the only one I've bookmarked with 'drawing' from seeking_spike.

Good luck finding it.

How about the 2nd half of "A Terrible Thing" by Herself?

Thank you every one for trying to find it for me. It is the one cordykitten referenced, 'The Color of Devotion' by rikki oko. Thank you thank you thank you!

At least I have the story since apparently she took it down and it doesn't appear to be saved anywhere. It's in cwk so I have to clean it up to read it easily but at least I have it. Thanks again cordykitten for linking me to the other questioner so I could find it.

ETA: Oh, and it's Xander and Willow in the beginning, not Faith. The one with Faith in there that I was thinking of is different but I don't remember the name sadly. The Color of Devotion was definitely the one I was seeking though.

Is it the one theelfherself was seeking???

Now, the one with Faith and the new slayers in Cleveland, that very well may be the second part of A Terrible Thing by Herself. I had completely forgotten that there was a second part so when I think of that story I only remember the drunken Vietnam shack part one. Brilliant story, by the way, if anyone hasn't read it yet.

Anyway, I think I mushed A Terrible Thing Part Two with The Color of Devotion in my head and that has caused the confusion for me. I am very grateful that I was put on the track of The Color of Devotion and that I have it saved. I guess we'll have to see if theelfherself can confirm whether either story is the one she was asking about before we can call this search closed. I'm all happy, though.

If anyone needs a copy of The Color of Devotion by rikki_oko email me through my contact here at TSR and I can send it to you. The author took it down to rework it but it's been over two years with nothing reposted so I'm going with the original version at this point.

Thanks again guys!!!

you can find The Color of Devotion here:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060115101412/www.nocturnal-light.net/stories/c/colorofde votion.html

Wow, excellent researching skills. I simply cannot find things on wayback unless I have the original address to work with, the names are impossible for me. Thank you for finding this.

Thanks for posting this, SMac. The one I was looking for was the second part of "A Terrible Thing." I forgot about the first part...eep. "The Color of Devotion" is in my 'library' and it's actually one of the titles that I luckily associate with the plot; most of my saved fics I have to open and start reading to remember what they are about, lol. With so many stories/sites/authors gone from the fandom, I wish I had saved more stories and had setup an organized system.
I'm grateful that there are still so many awesome and helpful Spuffy fans here with internet sleuthing skills and good memories.