Alternative late S6 - Spike running the Magic Box.

This is a story I read a long time ago – possibly years - and at the time it was unfinished. A couple of days ago, something reminded me of it since when I have been searching for it to see if it has been completed, but of course as usual I am hampered by the fact I cannot remember the title – or the author.

If I remember correctly, it kicks off directly after the wedding that wasn't, when before disappearing with D'Hoffryn, Anya entrusts the running of the Magic Box to Spike and Tara – and there is definitely no bathroom scene.

One detail that sticks with me is Spike chanting to himself that he mustn't eat the customers when they become particularly irritating.

I probably have the 'story so far' saved on my hard drive among the thousands of others I've accumulated, or at least a link to the original site where I found it, but without the title or at least the author's name, I have realised the search is hopeless.

It really was a remarkably well-written story that deserved to be completed, so I hope someone can guide me towards it – and I'll keep my fingers crossed that it was finished...

It sounds like it could be The Magic Box Series by spikewriter, but I can't find a working link.

It's on the WayBack Machine... Look under "Life in Sunnydale"

http://web.archive.org/web/20070529225404/http://www.missivesfromthehellmouth.com/

There's a Prolog and then the 1st chapter starts;

Do not eat the customers. Do not eat the customers. Do not eat...

Spike tried to convince himself again that if he repeated the mantra enough times, he might actually believe it. Might.

It was half past ten on a bright Saturday morning. Tara was supposed to manning the cash register at the Magic Box while Spike was busy in the basement storeroom with the mail and internet orders, but Tara had told him yesterday evening that she'd finally gotten desperately needed lab time for one of her classes and couldn't give up, even if it meant asking him to take the morning shift at the store and dealing with the amateurs magicians who made up most of Anya's weekend trade.

Thank you so much!

Yes, that's it!


I'm dreadfully disappointed that it is still in the same incomplete state as it was last time I looked, but now at least I can read what there is of it and enjoy it all over again.