That Good Night (the end)

[shadowscast]

Wow. Where did that last five years go?

I last updated this story in early 2009, and even before that my writing had slowed to a trickle, just a chapter a year for several years. But I never quite admitted to myself that I had abandoned this story; I kept thinking "someday, maybe, I'll finish it

Comments

[fenchurche]

Oh wow! Thank you!!! Over the years, I'd actually been occasionally tempted to write to ask you for spoilers on the ending (since that series is one I like to reread from time to time), and while I would have loved to read the full stories you had left to tell, this at least does a good job of giving some closure on it.

[shadowscast]

I'm so glad to hear that my effort to provide some closure worked for you! I figured that at least knowing what was supposed to happen would be better than never knowing, even if I couldn't properly tell the story in the end.

[julia_here]

That would have been a wonderful story, and I would have read the hell out of every word, but writing is a tough gig even when you've got all the time in the world and no interruptions from mere reality, so thanks for letting us know the broad outlines.

Julia, thanks for the long, wonderful ride.

[shadowscast]

Part of the problem with writing is that, although I love it in the sense that it gives me a deeper sense of satisfaction than anything else I do for fun, I also have a terribly unhealthy relationship with it-my normal mode for writing is to work in obsessive eight-hour stretches ending at 3 or 4 a.m. That was a thing I could survive when childless in my twenties; it's not a thing I can survive in my mid-thirties, with a kid who will crawl into my bed and start poking me at 7 a.m. on weekend days. (I did stay up till two a.m. two nights in a row writing this final summary, and it was indeed deeply satisfying emotionally and clearly unwise, physically. Gah so tired now.)

Julia, thanks for the long, wonderful ride.

*hugs* Thanks so much for saying that. And thanks for coming along with me; it would have been much less fun, alone!

[tabitha6789]

Thank you so so much for posting all of this. I really cannot state how much I love this story, it really is one of my all time favourite stories ever. I cannot remember how I stumbled across it, it was years ago, but I was never a spander fan until I read this story. You made the pairing so believable that I was a total convert. I really love the way you decided to go with this and it feels like a very satisfying end to a wonderful, exciting, dramatic story. I loved the choice Spike ultimately made in the end, very fitting for his character ... although I did get slightly excited about the prospect of a revamping by Dru...I'd quite like to read a story were Spike turns human post-chosen and is revamped by Angel....I think it would interesting. Anyway, THANK YOU again. <3 <3 *round of applause*

[shadowscast]

Thank YOU again for prodding me into doing this!

although I did get slightly excited about the prospect of a revamping by Dru

Hah, if I'd written this out properly as originally planned, that would have been a much longer tease!

[shapinglight]

Hi.

Just to let you know I'm so glad you managed to do this. I hope to gt around to reading it soon.

[shadowscast]

I still remember you warning me that I might have trouble finishing after my baby was born. And I remember thinking to myself "But I'll have so much free time while I'm on maternity leave!"

Ahahahaha.

[shapinglight]

;) Yeah, motherhood and creativity are not IMO mutually compatible.

I've read your summary now. So glad you decided to do it. What you did write was wonderful, and I'm sure the end would have been wonderful too. It sounds it.

And a happy ending. Have to say, I wasn't expecting that.

[shadowscast]

I know I'm not reliable for happy endings! I'm becoming more fond of them in recent years, though (maybe it's something about parenthood?).

To be honest, this story might not have had quite such a happy ending if I'd managed to finish it in 2006 or 2007. From the beginning I knew that the story would end with Spike offering himself up as a sacrifice in that cave, that something unexpected would happen, and that it would involve the proper Shanshu-but I honestly didn't figure out the exact details until I was writing it up last week!

[cowboyguy]

Thank you for this. I always loved this series, and I've been checking your lj every once in awhile to see if maybe there was an update. Must have been psychic or something, because I hadn't checked for a couple of months and then yesterday I see this!

Thank you for sharing what would have happened with us. I teared up a couple of times just reading this, remembering the things I loved about the series. And now I'm going to have to go back and read the whole series again, because it's been awhile. :)

[shadowscast]

Aw, thanks for saying so! :-)

I really am sorry that I never finished it properly, but I'm glad (and relieved!) that this ending-ish thing is working on some level.