Hi all,
I am so glad everyone is liking the new chapter, and that the Maclay clan surprised you. I was worried I had foreshadowed too much early on with Tara's fears of being like her family.
Things are heating up now, so when the next chapter comes up, the pace will be quick. I'll try to even it out with some slow scenes with W&T in bed. ;-)
I want to thank everyone for being so patient and supportive. Now for some replies!
dykeleen:
I pronounce Ceri's name as follows. (I have no idea what the Celtic version is.) Ceridwen= Care-a-dwin and Ceri= kerry
dekalog:
While I am opposed to addictions, I am all for guards at my beck and call! Woo and Hoo. Hey, I'd like a nice hot bath now, thank you. With fresh lavender from the garden. ;-)
peggy of sunnydale:
Thank you for being patient. It means a lot.
rocktoddy:
I hope to get back on my every Tuesday schedule. Cross your fingers! If my work and school load stays low, I should be able to!
dykeleen:
Well, more addiction and another guard. Cool! (not the addiction part) BTW, we will see some commentary on Dawn's smoking and her binge drinking. ;-)
Jennpurr:
Thank you for all the comments you give me. I always know you will post. (I think many fan fic folks worry a chapter will flop and get bad fan fic ratings- (feedback droughts). Good lord...Tim and HIP have turned me into a ratings junkie. ;-)
saule77:
hope you enjoyed the chapter at work. Let me know!
Puff:
I agree, Willow needed to be angry. As for her being angry in the morning...well, Tara isn't the only one with a secret. ;-) Willow and her little injury just might inspire angry Tara.
BTW- Dawn and Bre were both too busy panicking to really process everything Brianna revealed. I mean, think about if your secret crush was revealed... panic sets in fast!
Look for some out of control stuff when the Maclays get involved, but probably not in the way you think. ;-)
Hotfoot:
I am SO happy I surprised you. ;-)
Hopefully I will continued to do so...and all WITHOUT adding murder or rape to the story...oh, sorry, that turned into a ME rant.
WebWarlock: Tim,
Dawn and Bre get to have all the slow stuff I didn't get to have with W&T. ;-) Since W&T were already in love when my epics began, I didn't get to do the discovery stuff.
Bre and asking about Tara? Yeah, she IS the vanguard of the DotF.
Mischievous Willow is one of my favorites... along with frisky Tara.
The Maclays have a few surprises for us and Tara. ;-)
I WISH we could send Ceri and Bre to JW's door one dark night. He would wet his pants.
Thanks for the email buttons. I hope people are using them.
Oriyon:
Did you get the chapter? I can send it to you if you didn't.
dykeleen:
Now, honey...what would fan fic be without angst? ;-)
I like to think Willow's master plan didn't so much backfire as it blossomed into a better plan... a plan full of Tara snuggles.
I'm trying to make Brianna NOT perfect, so she does things like point out secret crushes... hehehe I doubt Bre and Dawn will get a clue soon, though. ;-)
Glad you are enjoying the stories.
lonewolf:
That talking scene was tough for me to write. Nothing brings up losing family like having Willow explain how much she and Tara belong together. I got a bit teary eyed myself, but for different reasons. (Just don't tell anyone. I have to protect my butch image... and despite what tiyodragon says, I am butch!)
BTW- The Maclays are supposed to be creepy. *G*
Thanks for your kind words and thoughts.
missquirky:
thanks for the hugs. ;-)
Dawn got to Kaley in her own way. Kaley wanted a brawl and Dawn wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
Bre and Dawn... the clueless leading the clueless.
I somehow doubt Willow had any intention of Ceri actually staying the night. Willow can't go without Tara snuggles for long.
Willow might soon have some real understanding of Tara's mage-o-pause. *G*
As for Caleb (BTW, I read that name in a WT fan fic eons ago...I forget which one... and thought it really fit. It might have been one by Shaych... anyway, I borrowed the name for Tara's dad because it seems perfect. So I guess he is fan fan fic.) now, you are assuming Caleb is dying... did the doctor say that? ;-)
mollyig:
Hey, thanks for giving me so much feedback. And I can spell your name now that I know where it comes from!
Kaley has been acting out so far- nothing that would require swordplay. She's hurting but her honor has kept her mostly in line. We'll see if that holds true. ;-)
Tara is worried... and rightly so. Willow with mage-o-pause just as the slack jawed yokel in-laws show up? yikes.
Willowfan:
I am doing much better.Thank you for asking. My family is adapting. Humans do that, and life has a habit of moving on.
I am honored that you have gotten so much from my fiction. I write because I must. I think many writers are the same way. I mean, can you imagine if I left all this stuff bouncing around INSIDE my head? I am just glad others enjoy my efforts.
Willow and Tara will have more"working things out." : -->

-)
Dawn and Bre... well they will be working... toward extreme frustration!
There are so many incredible writers on the Pens. I feel like I am missing out. I don't read other WT fic while I am writing my own. I had fun with Pureheart, but I felt guilty about making Phoebe suffer without Tara. I really needed a spare Tara in that one.
Kaley... yeah, Kaley... you are angry with her now? Just give it time. : -->

-)
Don't forget that Tara lined up a cute, but clumsy dude for Buffy... now, will she like a nice guy? hmmm... he hasn't murdered anyone so it's doubtful.
thanks again for your kind words and thoughts. It helps, a lot.
Wolflord:
Real life is getting better, either that or I am kicking it right back. Thanks for thinking of me.
Willow and the tummy... well, she was carting that saddle around and it has only been three weeks since she had major surgery... But don't worry, would I give you more angst? *batting my eyelashes*
Wiccansillusion:
I'm glad you like Bre and Dawn... but they are both so clueless...
Glad you are enjoying the story. I'll try to keep the ride bumpy. ;-)
I'm doing my best to kick some butt in RL.
Webwarlock:
Yeah, Kaley... joining Tara's Imbolc Guard may not have been the best choice for her. Now she has to endure hurricane Willow.
BTW, I happen to like the not quite fully evil baddies. When I wrote evil rack, well, that was payback for stuff on the small screen. Besides, I'm sure Rack had a few good points...unlike that rat bastard keeper who got disemboweled.
Have no fear, in MY world, Tara will grow up to be just like Emily, and she will have Willow at her side.
Bre/Dawn shippers? Well, at least we can have some wholesome images for a B/D ship. I shudder when I think of the actual B/D sites. eeew. From now on, B/D WILL be Bre/Dawn.
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okay, thanks to everyone for the comments. I limited these replies to the stuff posted since the new chapter. I will do my best to keep up with replies now. This board is incredible in its generosity. Thanks!
Lisa
*** Edited to add people who posted WHILE I was writing my replies!
Blameburner:
Thank you so much for responding to my concerns about the tone. My POV has been skewed the last few weeks.
I see Willow as very nurturing, and wanted to let her shine. She's being strong for her girl, but have no fear, Tara will gladly return the favor. Willow is always thud-worthy!
The Maclays... yeah, what do they have planned? : -->

-)
Thank you for you sympathies. It helps.
JewWitch18:
Wow, Tori hugs? That does rock! She is incredible.
I am so glad the Maclays were a big surprise. They have a few more things up their sleeves. Sadly, if anything can get Willow's dark side up and raging, it's Tara's family. I will give W&T some happy snuggles before the storm hits, and some Mommy time with Brianna and Megan. ;-)
Thanks!
L
Edited by: Lisa of Nine at: 10/30/02 10:17:05 pm