Bravo!

You know I read your fb response and I don't think I was correct in describing this as angsty, because you're right, there are definitely some serious heart-wrenching stories out there. This was a beautiful tale with infinite tenderness, both in the present and past. I think, for me, there was always this underlying sadness, both for what happened between Willow and Tara and all of the fallout that came after. Their story began so sweetly and through no fault of their own, it was shattered for power and money. Then, of course, the suffering of Willow's offspring over the years only magnified the tragedy.

Different questions were raised along the way and I love how you were able to wrap up the story in this update (though I'll miss those frantic update checks ). It wasn't all in a neat package (nor should it have been), but allowed the necessary closure for the new story of Mac & Rose to begin.

Loved this last installment. It was fun and flirty and exquisitely written.



This made me smile. I love that Mac acknowledges the lifestyle she has, but sees the humor of her situation as well.



Rose is so adorable. I know she's struggled this whole time reconciling the person she assumed Mac was with the woman she was confronted with each day. It's nice to see her struggle acknowledged in a fun way.



Insert dreamy sigh here. Seriously beauitful moment between two people. I remember a note you made early on that these characters were not meant as a reflection of reincarnation. I absolutely think you created these independent, equally intriguing characters that stood well on their own. However, if there was ever a moment in the story where Mac & Rose were channeling Willow & Tara, this was it. Maybe they were caught up in the old energy of the cabin, but when they finally came together, it was so much bigger than the two of them.

Mac's need and Rose's final surrender were superb. Both were opening themselves up in very different ways which allowed the barriers between them to finally fall. Mac needing, wanting, and loving another woman. Rose letting go of the control she's clung to for so long.



Again, Rose's humor. It's poked in from time to time throughout the story, but it was very nice to see this playful side fully emerge.

Finally, I loved Tara's letter. It doesn't change the ultimate end, but I like the idea of them running off to start this new life together. One of the saddest thoughts was imagining Tara never knowing the truth about her love. Though I'm sure it deepened her loss that much more when Willow was murdered, it allowed her to see Ethan's lies and allow love to return to her own heart before her own death. It was poignant and beautifully written.

Like I said, always sorry in a way to see the end of a great story, but thank you for taking us on the journey. The laughter, the tears, and everything in between were fantastic.

Great story. I loved it and am sad that it is over. I am glad that the bet stuff was not a big deal. Thanks for the story.

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Atlantic Antics Meeting Expectations
Learning to Laugh What I Discovered at Band Camp

Hey. I'm sorry I didn't leave fb before. I actually forced myself to stop reading about two chapters in, because I figured things must not have gone well for W/T.

I loved LCLL when I read it originally, and I didn't want anything to take away one of the few well written happy endings I've come across. Even if it was by you. I made myself wait until you had finished and then I read through the whole thing. Thank you. You've not only kept the W/T happiness alive from back then, but also added to it! Gah. I can't even begin to understand where you came up with this! You are a genius.

And I know that I'll continue pondering how things might go from where you left off. But, if you ever want to add to it, I won't object

Thank you.

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"I want my room to be Willow-friendly." Tara, New Moon Rising

Hiya Deb,
And so we come to our conclusion. I’m definitely going to miss reading this unravelling mystery. At the end Mac is well and truly gone. The almost unlikeable heiress that we met in Chapter one has been transformed into someone altogether more agreeable…but still possessing her best qualities, as Rose has become accustomed to.

But of course it works! Mac wins her bet…although to tell the truth I think both she and the reader have completely forgotten about the bet by now. It has gone so far past being about a simple bet that it really doesn’t matter anymore.


You had me cackling aloud at work at this point!

Although Willow and Tara died decades ago…Mac and Rose’s lovemaking in their cabin well and truly brings them back to life. It’s almost as though they’ve picked up right where they left off…where they were cruelly separated. It’s a fresh start to an old love story. Especially poignant when the letter is revealed. For some reason I was really worried that Ethan would shoot Willow when she came to the house demanding to see Tara…without her ever having reconciled with the blonde. That’s not the case at all of course, Tara realises she and Willow were cruelly betrayed and duped.

And Rose finally finds what she has spent so long searching for, but like the bet, it really doesn’t seem to matter anymore (Although I think her grandma will be getting a nice big plasma screen to watch Jeopardy on).
Congratulations on finishing another of your splendid stories Deb. Thanks very much for taking us Kittens along on the ride. I especially enjoyed this one for its originality and sense of mystery!

Alcy

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Willow Van Helsing...saving the world since 1777 │ Van Rosenberg II - Lord of Ice and Shadow

Hello everyone and thanks so much for reading and commenting on this story. I really enjoyed writing it and particularly enjoyed finishing it quickly. That was a nice feeling.


On to specific comments with some general at the end.


Willowtree252 – Hi and congrats on the final dibs. Yes, Tara was totally surprised about falling in love – not something she had planned on. I wanted the letter to be touching and I’m glad it was. Ethan was terrible, yes. Please do come back later.

Thanks again.


shiraz – Tee hee. Im’ pretty sure they’re 5th cousins. I wrote it all out on paper to make sure so hopefully no one calls me on messing it up. I always planned the picnic, partially because it’s romantic and partially because it gave Rose the opportunity to finally search the cabin.


I didn’t want it to be too McGyver but we know that she carries the knife around from the first chapter eating the apple. It’s not like I could have her pull a crowbar out of her backpack like Robin on HIMYM last week opening Barney’s briefcase with “Ted’s sledgehammer”? WTF? Ted has a sledgehammer and keeps it in the living room? Sorry, I digress badly.


Thanks so much .I’d like to finish the ones I’ve got started. Thanks so much for all your support and feedback.


whirlwindcharmer – Hi and thanks for commenting. Yes, I think Mac and Rose are quite cute as well.

Hmmm. I’m not sure that I’d say that. In my imagination she realized she had made a mistake very quickly but took a very long time to decide that she could and would leave the kids and to hope that Willow would go with her. But yes. They lost many years.


Yes. But you have no idea what else was going on. Maybe one of the boys woke up and came down stairs? Maybe a servant came into the room? One of the fun things about this story is the continued not knowing for me.

Thanks so much.


Anne -

Thanks so much. Yes, Mac fell into it and Rose was certainly open to it all along.


Yes. I totally see what you’re saying.


I’d say more the second than the first. I can’t honestly say what his or the lawyers’s reactions would be but it’s my concept that he and Mac are basically the generation(s) that are willing to make right. They have enough money and it hasn’t really helped them be great people. Now they can do something very right.

Thanks so much for your comments.


Zampsa1975 – Thanks always for your comments.

Hmmm. I’m not sure that there is any evidence that Rose fell in love. Consummated but love? I don’t necessarily think so. And yes, Tara was definitely leaving him for Willow.

Thanks again.


sacinema – Tee hee. Wow. Yes. That’s a word. I’m glad that you found it touching and romantic and lovely and that you nearly cried over Tara’s letter. Yes to both and that was the intention all along for me.


Quite honestly, I had no intention of mentioning the bet again but so many readers wanted to know how Rose would react that I felt like I had to or risk tomato-throwing masses.


I’ll await your further questions. Thanks again.


ophelia11 – Ok. Not angsty then.


Thanks for that. Yes, yes, and yes. That was exactly the feeling that I wanted to evoke. There was this thing that happened and it was very wrong and it’s sort of over but at the same time, even Willow’s current descendants are paying the price.


I’m glad you approve of the wrapping here. There were times that I was worried everyone would cry foul over it and say that I was just pulling a Huck Finn or something just to be done writing. One thing I very much considered was adding an epilogue that would be that scene when Willow goes to Tara’s house but I decided that I would rather leave it to the imagination.


Well, thanks.


Oh yes, Mac sees that she gets lots of special privileges from being a Willingham but and she finds it amusing but she wants it too.


Thank you. Mostly I wanted this to be a contrast with the sort of “get some/get gone” attitude Mac has always had to bedding before this.


Well put and I agree wholeheartedly.


I’m so glad you enjoyed the letter. I wrote it quite a while ago and then tweaked and tweaked and tweaked it. To me, it almost makes up for all the bad, just knowing that they both died knowing the other loved them.


And thank you for the volume and quality of feedback throughout.

taranwillow4ever – Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it. No, the bet was the just the setup.

SickSadGirl – No worries about the feedback. I can understand stopping reading so you didn’t have to read angst. I guess you figured it was complete and FAQ rules etc.?

Well thanks.

Thanks again.


I’m glad it will keep you wondering. I considered adding one more part but feel like this is pretty complete. Thanks for your feedback.


Alcy – Hey there. I’m sorry you’ll miss the story but not sorry it’s done. Yes, Mac’s definitely in love and it’s a new thing for her.


I’m glad that it’s a non-entity but at the same time so many readers asked about it that I felt like I couldn’t leave it out totally.


Well put. That’s quite what I wanted to express here.

Would I do that? Of course not.


Hmmm. I’d say to Rose and her grandmother her finding their fortune matters a very lot.


Thanks again. I always enjoy your feedback.




All – Ok. Really? No one has a problem with Rose’s actions here? I mean she’s validated in the end when she finds the documents but she sleeps with a woman who she may or may not love/care about perhaps for the purpose of having said woman fall asleep so she can search their romantic hideaway – a hideaway to which she’s been many times but never without a guard or docent present. Yes, she’s definitely attracted to Mac and no doubt enjoyed their little tryst but is it really ok to make love with a woman, have her cry which basically tells you that she’s in love with you, let her fall asleep on you (knowing ahead of time she’s exhausted?), and then get up out of bed to ransack the place for buried treasure?

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Ok let me address this one lets not forget who wrote this ok. You Deb brought to life a Willow so real that we all got to know her. That said we knew that no matter how bad she wanted to find her dream she would not have sold her soul to do it. To me the money and farm is icing on the cake I think she was equally in love. Besides who here would not have gotten up and looked around hmmmmm.

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Dia the spelunker
Never underestimate the powerful love of a good woman
If you were a cave what kind of cave would you be

Deb, great story. When I read the love scene between the two I knew I had to leave fb and tell you that you did a wonderful job writing it. You wrote it beautifully... it was tender and loving and eye opening. Eye opening, I think, for Mac because for the first time she felt something real and she felt connected. Something that her life-in-the-fast-lane attitude never let her experience. In fact, I felt like a voyeur, like I shouldn't be "watching" it.

And then I got to the part where Rose is reading the letter and Mac comes behind her and they're sitting together and everything is hugs and puppies and rainbows. My first reaction was WTF?! First, I kind of expected her to sneak around the place and start looking for clues. But that is Rose's reaction when she finds it?! After months of searching to strip the Wilinghams of part of their fortune, she finally finds the proof she needs and she starts making love to Mac again?! I fully expected her to run out of the room to her Grandmother and say "I GOT IT! I FINALLY GOT IT!" She started off with such anger towards the Wilinghams for what they did to her family and then she was completely apprehensive about Mac that her reaction was a complete surprise to me. And then the bet. How did finding out about the bet not infuriate her at least a little bit... salt on her wounds.

Second, how is Mac not bothered by the fact that Rose is ripping up floor boards after the passion filled moment they shared. Also, is she not threatened for her jet-setting, party lifestyle? Sure she fell in love with Rose, but I think she would be at least a little uneasy about Rose holding proof to have her family's fortune dwindled away a little.

So after thinking all of this, I felt a little guilty for not being able to enjoy the happiness of Mac and Rose. But then I saw this in your fb and I felt okay again:



Okay, I rambled a little. I suppose I was expecting the fall out of the proof, the snooping, the bet before we got to the happy ending. Of course this is not to say I didn't enjoy it. These are just the things that went thru my head. Again, great story. You always do a wonderful job of writing Willow and Tara, and in this case Mac and Rose, and bringing them to life. If you do decide to write a follow up I'll be here!

BTW, your story reminded me of my profession where we are constantly reminded that "if it's not documented, it didn't happen". Thanks for reminding me of work on my off time, Deb. Kidding!

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"Supposedly the summer is "over." The people that say that are either children or work in the education field. We are neither of those things. The summer is over when it stops being 300 degrees outside. Which won't be until December. That said, we will continue to have summer fun!"

Willowtree252 - Lol. Well, thanks for the support but I don't actually think that its all that kosher. I mean there's a difference in going to bed with a woman and waking up to search for burried treasure and talking to her about it. Mac was relatively supportive - maybe she would have said go for it if asked.



HalfCamel - Hey there! How awesome to see you feedbacking. How cool that you felt so voyueristic reading the love scene. I think you're totally right that it was a fist for Mac to feel something more than just nailing a hot girl.
I totally get what you're saying here and really labored over that ending. Honestly, it took me days to write the final paragraph. I considered just ending it with the reading of the letter and finding the coins and the document but it just seemed to be totally hanging there. And I kind of decided since this is the KB, I'd go with KB-standard of back to bed. But yeah. It's a but unbelievable. I can see that.

Again, I totally hear you and I wasn't going to ever mention the bet again but so many readers mentioned the bet and what would her reaction be when she found out that I felt like their would be half a kitten-riot if I did nothing about it. But the truth was that I didn't think it was important and I wanted Rose to react in that way as well. I think that it couldn't have lowered her opinion of Willinghams - if anything, it was just more evidence of all she disliked even if she did like Mac at the same time.

Yes! There are a lot of ways that at the end of the story I dislike Rose more than Mac. When I first planned this out I had a much darker opinion of Rose but I don't think she's in the right here. She's just desperate for the only chance she would ever have to tear the place apart. And Mac's reaction is colored by #1 being in love #2 being sex-crazed and #3 having totally bought into the mystery and romance of Willow and Tara.

I think that if anything, she would be upset about the relationship but not the money. I want to portray her as someone for whom the difference between a fortune of 400 million dollars and 260 million or 305 million or whatever is pretty negligible.

Anyway, I'm glad that you enjoyed my questioning of the readers about anyone having an issue (which you did).

Thanks as always. I can't imagine a follow-up unless it's just some PWP on an airplane or a private beach in Greece or something.
Thanks always.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Sorry for the late really, really late feedback, I don't get to the board as much as I used to/would like to.

I ended up reading both the first and "Revisted" back to back. Every once and awhile it is cool to read a fic without waiting for updates

The story was so beautiful and well... tragic but the history was so colorful and the research very interesting to follow. I like the added extras with the newspaper clippings and Tara's note to Willow. Came across as very authentic

Mac and Rose were quite the pair, I loved Mac's whole "self assurance" thing until she really fell for Rose. The whole Marian the Librarian kept throwing me because I kept picturing her different than who she was. I don't even want to suggest what came to mind. Ha-ha.

This is a long quote but I found it extremely funny...


It really came together nicely, well done!
-anna

Irishgrl3 - You're sorry for late feedback? I'm more sorry for this very late reply. I know what you mean and it's always fun like when you find a story and it's already done and you can just enjoy it. I'm glad you liked the history and tragedy and the newspaper clippings. I think Chris did all of them. I sent him text and said can you make it look worn or something and he did the rest because he's just awesome.

Marian the Librarian - I hope not the Partridge family mom, whatever her name is. Shirly Jones? Something. Shudder.

Thanks so much for taking the time to feedback and I'm sorry it took me so long to respond.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits

Resubscribing.

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Menorah Tales | Working It Out | Random Bits