Huge complaint: This chapter was not nearly long enough.

Author's Response: The next one is already longer! See how easy that is?

Oh, poor William. First havng to endure the lotion torture, then Buffy being upset by the play. Thank goodness she didn't let them cut off his curls! That would've been a travesty! Strip poker, huh? I wonder how much of Spike's poker skills William had already? heehee! And Buffy drunk while playing, that should tip the odds. Me thinks William may need that sheet to bunch around his hips again very soon. Lovely update, can't wait for more.

Author's Response: A confession: I wrote it that he'd gotten a haircut the first time around. I ended up ... not liking that! Thanks for your feedback. I hope the poker surprises you in a good way

Wow! Those are some sexy suits. Can't imagine the tan lines. Yeesh!

Thanks for the great wooing update! Cheek-y William is damn hot. Playing footsie in the water - even better. Quite a devilish streak our little Victorian has. Asking permission for a kiss after he's almost gone and done is anyway!!! **exaggerated eyebrow wag**

By the way, I love the way you write Miss Edith and Dru. We all know that Dru is bat shit crazy, but when you watch her on the show, sometimes she's so "with it" ya' know? She understands what's going on and responds, cryptically, but rather coherently (off the top of my head, her conversation with Spike in "Crush"). Spike's intelligent and would have to be with someone who could at least follow along some of the time, or least speak in a way that he could learn to understand. So anyway, to make a really long tangent, longer... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like how you have Dru communicating with Miss Edith in a logical way, so that even though people who can't hear creepy dolls don't understand what Dru is raving about, she's actually very logical and responding to her environment. Often times I feel that fanfic authors get so lost in making Dru crazy, they forget that she plans things and in her own way does know what is going on. In my opinion, at least.

Anyway, fantastic update. Can't wait for more!!

Author's Response: Thanks hon. I had a lot of fun plotting some way future chapters that involve Dru and Miss E. I was so happy to read some of your thoughts where they're concerned and glad they come off as both creepy and inteligent. It will be fun to watch things spin out once they get to play it out in the wild west! I am awfully glad authos can say things like "10 days later, they arrived in Denver" :) The train will be fun, hopefully, all the same!

I'm glad Buffy didn't drown in that get up! Sounds like she might be drowning a little in William, though. I wonder what she thought of him saying that Spike taught her to kiss, though ... 'cos her memory of Spike was not of any kissage unless you count 'Something Blue' ... I would think that would freak her out a bit. Have they had that convo before? I don't recall it. I wonder how long she'll hold out against this romantic wooing and his sweetness? Not long, I hope! Great update. enjoyed it!

Author's Response: In the first story she told him of her relationship with Spike in a sketchy way (although mentioning they'd planned on being married, while glossing over the details). In this story, in the earliest chapters, he talked of how she'd tell him stories of her life in the modern age just as they settled in to bed at night. THanks for the review

Okay... You're a tease!! As per my last note to you, and your response, are you sure you're just 99% evil?? Cuz Alternative C? Really? *giggles*

Despite your inherent evilness, I adored William's "I should like very much for an opportunity to woo you." Also, his metaphor about fishing was great. Even though I wanted some serious smoochies to ensue, I was delighted with the turn of events. Buffy even sat in his lap! It was perfect - exactly what I imagine William would have done and glad that they didn't fall into the trap of sex for comfort, rather than love. Great work. I just love this story!!!! Thank you so much. I can't wait for more wooing!

As a sidebar, poor Spike. No matter what universe he's in, he still is trying to make that woman fall in love with him! Although, technically this version doesn't remember that, it still majorly sucks for him in a larger cosmic kinda way. Thanks again!

Author's Response: THanks inara! I have hopes the wooing won't take too long as Buffy is already pretty far along to being smitten with him. She just works so hard at denial. If William can just help her shed a bit of baggage, I think the smuttiness, I mean "soulful lovemaking" can follow. I agree about Spike's karma - however, sometimes when you work for something, you cherish it more. At least that what my parents told me when they wouldn't help me with college. I'm sticking with that!

Oh, swoon! I love William! You did a wonderful job of mixing misty eyes with giggles here and Buffy being avoidy ... wow, who woulda seen that coming!? heehee! Seriously, excellent. More please!

Author's Response: Thanks p4s. I couldn't do a season 6 redux. And I don't think wooing will take all that long since she's halfway gone already. She just doesn't know it

Okay, so...

#1 You ARE evil
#2 I fully hope that you plan on going with Alternative B
#3 You ARE evil ; - )

A great chapter! I love that Buffy is finally starting to get mushy feelings for William. I can only hope that eventually she connects the dots and sees that while William is different from Spike, there is much of William in Spike. She is Season 5 Buffy, right? Spike was definitely starting to show his softer side around that time.

Also, I'll be interested to see what sparked the sex-a-thon (pretty please, let there be one). Is Buffy just sad about George and the current state of her life, and thus, has the need for not so cold comfort? Or, is she starting to have feelings??????

I know I've said it before, but I just LOVE your historical sidebars and the pictures are the best!!!! I'm a big history nerd and just can't get enough. The Statue of Liberty picture was especially cool.

Thanks so much for a great update. Can't wait for Alternative B!!! :-)

Author's Response: 1. Thanks for the review! I never know if I'm cramming in too much history and this is starting to feel like a class. Good to know I haven't crossed the line. 2. I love that you wonder what sparked the whole "jump my bones, William" from her. I think late season 5 time-travel trauma Buffy is a lot like Season 6 back from the dead Buffy. And she may be trying to feel better by getting groiny. But William isn't Spike... so how that might play out is interesting! 3. I am not evil. Not PURE evil. 99 percent? Maybe

Isn't it a joy when, after you write something, you can find a photo that fits your vision perfectly?? I don't mock your spasms of joy over that! I've had a few of those myself. :O

Loved this line: Buffy offered him a weak smile. “It’s what America is good at. Bringing super-sizing to the world since 1880.” Very funny!

Loved growly William getting them dinner and sweet William taking her to see the arm.

And thank goodness Buffy's come to her senses! I do hope you don't go with option C, however, in your list of possible things to do next! That would be sad and quite evil, really.

Can't wait for more!



Author's Response: Thanks A4S! I really liked that line and it means a lot that someone noticed it. I had actually written the beginning of the next chapter even before George died. It was one of those "sure I'm taking a bath, but I just need to write down 5 pages of this idea!" kinds of things. So I'm getting to that this morning!

A fitting farewell for George, as sad as the whole situation is, to leave him off to his next adventure, Davy Jones and all, seems the right thing. That Captain Parsell is a wonderful man, to take William's opinion in such high regard. Hopefully, this tragedy will help to bond our blond pain, and give them a mission to attend to when they reach land. Love all your historical detail, too. And there is nothing wrong with being creepily morbid. :) Update soon!

Author's Response: We will have to start a Creepily Morbid Club! What was fun about Capt. Parsell is that when the story formed in my head, he was barely there and a kind of stereotypical sea captain. But when I found the boat for them, and researched who captained it, he just popped out. His crew adored him and he had a kind word for everyone. Always nice to have you along for the ride BR!

I love the part about making up one whole useful person. It's a very Joss Whedon type of scene, beautiful and well-executed. The historical details make this piece really sing.

Author's Response: Thanks hon. Now to start on this next chappie. Yikes! Thanks again for all your help and insight!

Hey, as one of the people who read this chapter before it went to post, I thought I ought to weigh in on the leggy controversy.
The image was jarring and disorienting, but intentionally so. It takes you a second to think about it before the sentence makes sense. Grammar Police-if you thought this could be stated in a more elegant way, then that's your right. There was no need for the sarcasm, though. Sharing writing is such a frightening process anyway, one that makes the author vulnerable. Obviously, this isn't a professional forum and you've got a lot of people writing for a lot of reasons. In short, criticism is important, but I'd urge you to please be nice next time you don't like something.

Author's Response: Case in point. Minx just schooled someone in how to be nice, but she did it in a NICE way! I adore criticism. It's how I improve. But ya know what I love even more? Common decency!

What word popped into my mind after I read some of the comments? Rice pudding! The perfect solution to pompous uncles and other bragadocious people.

Author's Response: Proof once again that there ain't no problem that food can't handle :D

I hate to have to do this on an author's review page but what I've read on it has really bothered me.

Grammar Police, I don't want you to feel attacked here, but I think the way you phrased your comments was disrespectful and not at all constructive criticism. I felt that the phrasing and the use of exclamation marks stressing your point came off as sarcastic, condescending and rude.

Secondly I think that despite your argument to the contrary, your original review did criticize the author's beta readers. "Five people read this and not a single one spotted that! Good job!" I would love to know how else this could be perceived as to me it seems like a clear dig at everyone who read the chapter and approved it.

I would also like to point out that just because people are responding the way they are under aliases does not mean it is the author. She has responded to your review and made her point. I don't think she needs to pretend to be a variety of anonymous characters just to get back at you. It's unnecessary and the fact that you review anonymously should say something about throwing stones.

Okay, this was a long review that had nothing to do with the chapter but I felt the need to express an opinion since I am not used to seeing this sort of thing and it annoys me that this carry on happens in an environment that should be creative and fun.

Wolf out.

Author's Response: I don't know how to respond to this. Go wolf. How's that?