Changes Update...

[tabaqui]

Hallo!
Yes, a bit late.
Ah, well. All down to me. I was sick this week, and didn't write like i should, and then went for the family visit this weekend and hoped to write THERE, but got SICKER - joy of joys.

So, only half is beta'd since Edi only GOT half, so nit-pick ME, if you please. :)

Might be a bit fraught - you are warned!

Changes Chapter 29:Descent

Enjoy!
And thanks for being patient.

Comments

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Total tour de force, and I'm gutted, really.

I've been waiting for this, eager and trepidatious in equal parts, and about half-way through being put through the wringer today I had the thought "God, I'm going to LOVE rereading this when it's all over and known but right now it HURTS."

Way too good, way too painful, and my nitpick happy mind found nothing to distract me from the owies, except that when it's over it's going to be SUCH a rush to reread this.

Julia, sorry for the sickness, what a drag

[tabaqui]

Hey, thank you!!
That is a damn fine thing to say!
:)
*pets*
It's weird, being happy you made people sad.
But...hey!
I am!!
*bounce*

Nasty girly illness - all better in a day or so.

[aimeelicious]

OMG, I'm a wreck. Some of the most beautiful goodbyes I've ever read. Thank god it's lunchtime and most people are out of the office.

My heart will be in my throat until I know what happens next.

[tabaqui]

Thank you, bay-bee.
:)
Ooh, lurve your icon.
:)

[djinanna.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

::whimpers::

[tabaqui]

*pets pets pets*

[amejisuto.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you've been sick luv, hope you get to feeling better.

I hate to say it but I'm chickening out, I think I'll wait till next week's to read this one. I'm really not up to crying for hours. But I'm sure it's great, cause you always are no matter how sick you are!

[tabaqui]

Nasty girly thing and it's...dying down.
Thanks, bay-bee.

Ooh - no waiting!!
Must have fb!!!
*snerk*
Ooh, it'll be okay!!
:)

[shighola.livejournal.com]

*weeps*

You are a terrible woman who hurts me so. How? How is it possible for you to convey such love and pain and desperation and longing and-
HOW??!!

I may have a somewhat more rational and coherent response later. After I've stopped crying.

[tabaqui]

*pets*
Here, sweetie, have a tissue.
And...thank you.
:)

Chapter 29

[(Anonymous)]

OMG what a cliffhanger! We are now off-canon and into unknown territory. We literally have no clue as to where you are taking us you devious lady you. I feel like I'm holding my breath until next week. Poor Spike--he doesn't like the cold and poor Xander. In the immortal words of JW "where do we go from here?"

Shakatany

Re: Chapter 29

[(Anonymous)]

I meant to add that I thought your idea of limiting the power to those 18 Potentials was a lot smarter than what ME did (I think I recall hearing the number 8000 bandied about by one of the creators). I think they wanted to be able to make a new TV show with a Slayer and not have to limit themselves to one of those already seen.

How do you feel being freed from all canon restraints now?

Shakatany

[chocgood84.livejournal.com]

*ehem*

Now you done it; I'm bawling like a freakin baby!

Such a great chapter and such a horrible chapter at the same time. Just...great. *still crying* Oh Spike! And Xander, it'll be okay! *whimper*

[tabaqui]

Oooh!!
*pets you*
*offers tissues*
Sorry, bay-bee!!
But - i'm glad you liked it.
:)

[anelith.livejournal.com]

So beautiful and so painful. I don't cry easily, and I have tears standing in my eyes.

Before you take the next step into new territory, it must feel pretty amazing to look back and think that you've created an alternative couple of years for the Buffyverse here.

[tabaqui]

Thanks, bay-bee.
:)

And yeah, it's neat to think i 'altered history' in some ways.
Good ways!
I hope.

[cloudiecat.livejournal.com]

OMG! That was just harrowing! And my eyes are all sticky with tears and I feel so utterly sad for Xander and Spike *sniffle-gulp* But I'm hoping the worst is past although I don't know how Spike is going to cope for 7 years apart from Xander and the others.

Just love this story and the feelings and emotions, the happy, sexy-smutty ones and the angst ridden, devestating ones, that it evokes. Thanks again, so much, for this.

cloudie

[tabaqui]

Ooh, thank you!
And...
*pets you*

I'm so glad you like it!

[riani1.livejournal.com]

The only nitpick--and maybe I missed it because my eyes were all blurry with tears--I had was, when did Angel leave? I wanted to see that farewell.

It's very hard to read something like this when you've only got one tissue left in the box.

[tabaqui]

Oooh, sorry.
Angel left when Jack did - waaaaay up in the first chapter, with no fanfare.
*pets*

Sorry, bay-bee...but...
Thank you!!
:)

[everxxafter.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful, you had me crying! Again! And it's a whole WEEK to the next chapter! *hyperventilates* *cries some more* *goes out in search of chocolate and snuggles*

[tabaqui]

*pets*
Hey, it's okay!!
:)
Thanks, bay-bee.

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Oh gods that just about destroyed me. I started crying about two paragraphs in and didn't stop - haven't stopped.

Definitely a three hankie chapter!

As for nitpicking:

The link bristled with challenge - the pack regarded the whole city as their own, anymore - and they plunged into the group - That 'anymore' looks wrong to me.

"You drive careful, Braniac." - This is more a spelling thing. I've always thought that was spelt 'Brainiac'?

and there was only Tara left, looking lost and lonely. She wrapped her arms around Spike and hugged him hard, - and this is more formatting. There seems to be an extra large space between the sentences there, and it just looks odd.

::still sniffling:: ;o)

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Except of course that lj edits out the extra spaces automatically so you can't see the oddness there in that lst quote. ::kicks lj::

It's there, I swear! *g*

::finally stopped sniffling.. almost::

[taruma16.livejournal.com]

That was so fabulous and wonderful and most of all sooo sad even though we all knew what was coming.
*off in search for more tissues, sobs harder*

[tabaqui]

Thank you!!
*hands you tissues*

[sufie58.livejournal.com]

I'm so relieved that I was on my own in the house when I read this chapter - I've been sobbing like a baby for most of it. It was so sad - those goodbyes were just heartbreaking. Thank you.
PS I've always meant to say, and somehow never got round to actually saying, that I love all the excerpts from songs, poems, books that you include in Changes.

[tabaqui]

OOh!
Sorry!
But...thank you so much!

And i'm glad you like the 'bits' i put in - i love my books and poems, and my weird little songs. :)
Makes things fun.

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

I don't normally cry over fics, but the end of this chapter has me sniffling. Wonderful chapter, tabaqui. Very poignant and heart-wrenching.

[tabaqui]

Thank you, sweetie.
And...*tissues* sorry!
:)

[pyrite.livejournal.com]

i'm crying again darnit! i'm amazed that you can manage to keep up the emotional intensity to write this. it's hard enough for me to read it.

[tabaqui]

Thank you!
And...have some tissues!!
And...ummmmm...
I just wanna tell my story and FIX the crap ME pulled, so...
:)

[fanbot.livejournal.com]

Damn, girl. That was beautiful. The scene in the beach house... wow!

Please don't make us wait 7 years, or even 7 days, for more.

[tabaqui]

Thank you!
:)
And...ummmmmm...sorry, next week.

[brandil.livejournal.com]

::flails and weeps::

[tabaqui]

*pet pet pet*

[ladyemma.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, this is the most freaking wonderful lovely amazing story. I just adore everything about it, and I'm too much in awe and love to say anything constructive. I cannot wait for more.

[tabaqui]

Hehee.
Dude, that was fine!
Thank you!

[quondamquadrat.livejournal.com]

That was absolutely incredible. Loved the farewells, loved the buildup and the pacing, loved Spike's inner struggle -- loved it ALL! I did have to wait for the tears to clear up several times while I was reading this. I'm really looking forward to more of this.

Sorry you've been ill; I hope you're feeling better.

Q

[tabaqui]

Hey you!
Haven't heard from you in a while!
:)
And thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it - it was a very hard chapter to write - i was so very nervous!

I'm much better, thank you.

[eyezrthewindows.livejournal.com]

*sobs*

[tabaqui]

*pets pets pets*

[chriself.livejournal.com]

*grasps pen in hand*
How do I love thee....
My God, girl, that was so beautiful, so....raw. I actually envy the characters for having that family/love/pack/pain/ecstacy/connection/love... And how achingly sad/empty/helpless....
Sheesh, I'm reduced to adjectives.
*still loving the pooka*

Hope you are feeling better

[tabaqui]

Hey, sweetie, thank you!
*pets you*
So glad you liked it - I was really nervous about this chapter.
And the poooka!!
I love him, too!
:)

[(Anonymous)]

Hope you feel better soon!

It's a secret. *whispers* Click here (http://www.livejournal.com/~spikess/69039.html).

[annabuffy.livejournal.com]

Oh my God. My heart is breaking and I'm crying. You can't do this to Spike and Xander. Please don't make Xander wait 7 years for Spike to return. Let Spike come back sooner and let him be safe and sound.

[tabaqui]

Hey, thank you!
:)

Ummm, it's only seven years for Spike, it's one year in the 'human' world.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Okay...I had to stop and come back and stop and come back...I cried and cried.
This was the most amazing bit--so beautiful, when they ran to the school all of them,oh! The way you described it was magic.This whole ep was so full of magic and beauty and pain. You're stunning... I'm blessed to read this. Thank you so much!

[tabaqui]

Oooh, Ms. Thang!!
I'm sorry! In the weird, guilty, not REALLY sorry way!!
:)

Sweetie, you make my day. You really, really do.
*hugs you hard*
Thank you, Ms. Thang.