Nothing the Same, Book 4, Epilogue

[orchidluv]

This could probably use a final edit/proofread, but I want to post it tonight, so...  Over the next couple weeks, I will be going back through Books 3 (because I started but didn't finish) and 4, proofreading, tweaking, and re-posting so the chapters are linked internally.  No major changes, just a little clean-up.  Then the series will be

Comments

[brunettepet]

Thanks for wrapping up this entertaining story with such a big, shiny bow. Placing a memorial over the hellmouth makes wonderful sense, and I love the detail of Jesse and the others being commemorated rather than forgotten.

Xander and Spike taking a vacation after the Summers' clan has been to Disneyland highlights just how different the world you created is from canon. Sharing the burden of protecting Sunnydale with others has allowed more freedom for the gang. Despite living on the hellmouth, they are all living a good life with the people they love. It all made for a wonderful read.

[orchidluv]

It really feels like they're all in a pretty good place. There will still be demons to fight, but Buffy's got a lot of help, and Joyce being there will make all the difference. Spike and Xander, of course, are pretty much unstoppable together. *g*

Thanks again for all your wonderful comments over the course of this. You've taken a lot of time and trouble and it is greatly appreciated.

[sparrow2000]

Congratulation love, this was a super way to end it. I loved you coming full circle with the remembrance of Jesse. Willow finally going with Xander to visit the unmarked grave is a lovely reminder of how this all started.

And as others have commented, of course Spike would want to join the mile high club - that was a hell of a hot scene by the way!

Lovely way to finish with the boys on the beach contemplating eternity. You started with two lost boys walking a fine line of grief and rage and have taken them on a huge journey to contentment and peace and I've loved every single step of the journey. Kudos my dear, this one is definitely a keeper.

S xx

[orchidluv]

Thanks, hun. That's exactly what I wanted to do - just a small harkening back to the beginning with the reference to Jesse. So glad you liked that.

Thanks for all your wonderful comments over the course. You were one of my early readers and your comments were incredibly encouraged and very welcome. *sends hugs*

[shakatany]

Sigh what a wonderful epilogue tying up the assorted yet minor loose ends. Dawn is normal and will go on having a wonderful life with her mother and sister. Xander becomes Spike's Consort but that was sort of expected. I loved the idea of the memorial and the bricks especially the one with Jesse's name and the moments shared with Willow which ties beautifully together with the beginning of NtS - they're back to where they were despite the difficult times that separated them.

In S7 canon the Hellmouth was sealed with the Seal of Danzalthar; when last we saw the Hellmouth in, I think it was, "Doomed" it was just a hole in the floor beneath the remains of the high school. There was no background, no mention of where the stupid Seal had come from, it was just there with no explanation, simply another example of the disjointed writing of S7 :(

Shakatany

PS tiny typo? wanting the reflected Glory of being part of his Court. unless you're sort of punning shouldn't that be glory?

[orchidluv]

I know! Who the heck put that seal there? Not one word of explanation! And considering that there is no way that seal was there before (or else how would that enormous monster have busted up into the library), who put something so obviously evil there without anyone noticing? Surely some throw away explanation could have been given. Oh well. I guess the writers thought it was enough that it was there. Grrr.

Glad you liked the way I tied up the loose ends. I was particularly pleased with the idea of a memorial - something Sunnydale badly needed.

Thanks for the catch. *rolls eyes at self* that was dumb.

[shakatany]

I thought the Seal of Danzalthar was something like King Solomon's Seal to keep the Hellmouth shut - which is what someone (Giles?) should've done at the end of "Doomed". All of a sudden it was there - an egregious breach of continuity (among other breaches in S7 - that season was so badly thought out).

Shakatany

[orchidluv]

You're right, "seal" would seem to imply that it was put their to, well, seal the hellmouth, yet it seemed evil to me - given the goat head design. Wouldn't a seal intended to close the hellmouth have "good" imagery? Probably just another of the little moments of illogic which we ignore because otherwise we'd go nuts. *g*

[orchidluv]

aww - thanks!

[skargasm]

*mexican wave*

*wolf whistles*

Thank you so much. I have absolutely adored reading all four books, and you're right, this seems like abloody good place to end it. And what better ending? The Hellmouth closed, Xander made consort, and everyone safe. Perfect.

*sniff* You're gonna write more Spander though, right?? Pretty please??

This weekend is child-free and I am going back to Book 1 and reading all the way through. Thank you once again for all the time, energy and thought that you put into writing this for us.

[orchidluv]

*beams* Thanks! All the worst stuff coming at them in canon will be avoided, and this is about as happily ever after as these guys get. But I kind of like the idea of our boys having a 200th anniversary. *g*

Nothing Spandery is on the burner right now, but I'll see what the muse comes up with.