1. Chapter One by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 9] (3290 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

2. Chapter Two by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (4363 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

3. Chapter Three by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 13] (2010 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

4. Chapter Four by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (2892 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

5. Chapter Five by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 8] (3836 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

6. Chapter Six by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 6] (2748 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

7. Chapter Seven by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 6] (1532 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

8. Chapter Eight by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 9] (2659 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

9. Chapter Nine by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 1] (2430 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

10. Chapter Ten by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 8] (2453 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

11. Chapter Eleven by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 11] (4274 words)
Author's Note: This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

12. Chapter Twelve by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (3433 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

13. Chapter Thirteen by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 6] (3957 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

14. Chapter Fourteen by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (2327 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

15. Chapter Fifteen by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 6] (1247 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

16. Chapter Sixteen by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (1574 words)
This is currently a WIP written in response to a Spuffy Kinkathon challenge. The story requirements were as follows: The requested kink was hurt/comfort. Three other requests were to show Spike reluctantly biting Buffy, include Dawn and/or Xander in the story, and set it anywhere from Season 5 to Post-NFA.

17. Chapter 17 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 5] (3076 words)
So sorry for the long delay in updating. Life suddenly got crazy-hectic and it’s been a non-stop roller coaster ride ever since.

For anyone still following this story, I come bearing new chapters. Posting the first of them tonight. And so you won’t have to go back and re-read the earlier chapters (unless you reeeeally want to), here’s a recap of the action thus far…

Recap: Buffy gets a mysterious summons from Giles that takes her to his estate in England. There, she finds Spike who, along with Illyria, was teleported out of the NFA alley in the midst of the big battle. Only hitch is, he’s in an unexplained comatose state, which may or may not have something to do with the infamous Shanshu prophecy.

Buffy finally figures out the quickest way to wake him up. (Any guesses as to what that would be? Heh.) But Spike’s a little pissed off that Buffy put her life at risk to do it, and Buffy’s pissed that he’s pissed. So…surprise, surprise…they’re not really talking to each other the way they should be. Which makes rescuing Angel and Gunn from an alternate dimension just a wee bit tricky, but those stubborn kids are gonna give it a shot anyway.

Shortly after arriving in the alternate dimension, the two get a little…um…distracted. Then Buffy says something stupid and Spike says something stupid and…well, I think you can see where this is heading. And then things really heat up...literally...when that pesky NFA dragon shows up. But that's nothing compared to what happens once Buffy finally tracks down Angel. It's deja vu with the Angel kissage, though Buffy's heart isn't in that relationship anymore. But good luck convincing Spike of that when he sees them and storms off. So this time it’s Buffy who’s chasing after Spike, but that doesn’t work out so well, and now they find themselves at a bit of a stalemate.

In the meantime, daylight strands them at an inn and tavern (since Spike and sunshine aren’t mixy things) where a newly shanshued Angel and a fully recovered Gunn have been living for months with a local family. While Spike catches up with Gunn, Angel and Buffy have a long heart-to-heart. Angel realizes Buffy loves Spike and wants a future with him. And Buffy is convinced Spike’s mysterious coma was actually part of the Shanshu process and that her attempts to wake him up have prevented him from becoming human.

Buffy feels a wee bit guilty and starts avoiding Spike, who knows something is up but isn’t having much luck cornering his slayer. Angel thinks Buffy wants a human Spike. Spike thinks Buffy wants a vampire Angel. Buffy dreads having to tell Spike that he’s lost his Shanshu because of her.

Before anything can be resolved, Angel and Gunn rush off to hunt down a band of demon raiders, also sucked into this dimension at the same time as Angel and Gunn, leaving the way open for a long-overdue discussion between our two hard-headed blondes…

18. Chapter 18 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 3] (2506 words)
I stopped posting updates on this story quite some time ago because the updates were so few and far between. But now, after six years in the making, this story is finally done. Yay! Cue the Snoopy Dance! Heh.

I plan to post at least one chapter a week (more frequently, if possible). But my dad is having surgery next week and is expected to be in the hospital a while. So if I wind up missing a week, that’s why.

Many thanks to those of you who have patiently awaited extremely sporadic updates and graciously left much-appreciated comments. Thanks also to those who have only recently discovered the story and offered your encouragement. All of you are what kept me going.

If you need a recap of the story thus far to refresh your memory without having to re-read previous chapters, you can find it at the beginnin of Chapter 17.

As always, comments and constructive criticism are most welcome and greatly appreciated. I hope you find it worth the wait!

19. Chapter 19 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 6] (2594 words)
Back with the next chapter! Just a heads up…my very old laptop may have a failing hard drive. I just finished backing up everything to a flash drive, just in case. I’ll keep trying to make weekly updates until or unless it dies. Don’t know how long it might take to get a new one, but I’ll be back as soon as possible.

Either way, I won’t be updating for the next week or so. My dad’s cancer has returned and I’ll be staying with him at the hospital after his surgery. Prayers and good thoughts would be most appreciated.

In the meantime, hope you enjoy…

20. Chapter 20 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 2] (1876 words)
Author’s Note: I’m back with another chapter a little sooner than I expected. There was a slight problem at literally the last minute with my dad’s EKG so he was released and his surgery was postponed for a couple of weeks to get things checked out.

This chapter is not so big with the action, but we finally do get a few answers. If my laptop continues to hang in there (pets poor laptop) and I get a chance, I’ll try to post the next chapter tomorrow.

In the meantime, on with the show…

21. Chapter 21 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 2] (2407 words)
Author’s Note: Back with another installment. This chapter got a wee bit long, so it was split it into two parts. I’ll try to post the next one right after this, as long as my laptop doesn’t get too hot.

22. Chapter 22 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 3] (3250 words)
Author’s Note: Last chapter for now. A little silliness, a little action, a little angst and a big heart-to-heart. As always, comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

23. Chapter 23 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 3] (3007 words)
Thank you so much for the comments on the previous chapters. So sorry for the delay in responding to some of them, but they’re all greatly appreciated. Now on to the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!

24. Chapter 24 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 3] (2453 words)
For those who are still reading, got another chapter up! :-)

We’re heading down the home stretch now. Will try very, very hard to get the final chapters posted by next weekend before my dad goes in for surgery.

Hope you enjoy!

25. Chapter 25 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 4] (3339 words)
Here’s the latest installment of Marking Time. Sorry I didn’t get the final chapters posted before my dad’s surgery. And many thanks to those who expressed concern. The cancer turned out to be superficial this time, so he’s now at home recovering, with no chemo or radiation needed. Yay!

Now…on with the show. Below is a loooong recap of the story from the beginning, just in case anyone needs a refresher.

26. Chapter 26 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 3] (3375 words)
Here’s the next to the last chapter. I’m taking part in NaNoWriMo starting next week, so I’ll make it a point to get the final chapter posted before then.

As always, constructive criticism is definitely welcome. I would be most pleased to know if the overall story or any part of it does or doesn’t work for you.

Also? A recap of earlier chapters can be found at the beginning of Chapter 25. I hope you enjoy!

27. Chapter 27 by annapurna_2 [Reviews - 9] (3727 words)
It’s been six years in the making, but it’s finally done. Cue the Snoopy Dance! Heh. I still have issues with this last part. At some point, it may get revised and replaced. In the meantime, many thanks to those of you who have patiently awaited extremely sporadic updates and graciously left much-appreciated comments. Thanks also to a few of you who have only recently discovered the story and offered your encouragement. Your interest kept me going through life's ups and downs. So thank you for inspiring me to finish. I hope you find it worth the wait.