Here are some replies, Kittens. I want to make sure I’m keeping up with them. I’m working on edits to chapters 9 and 10…and I’ve begun writing chapter 11. So, hopefully I will be able to post an update fairly soonish.
Thank you so much for reading my little story and for leaving such wonderful feedback. You all sure know how to treat a girl.
[hr]
watson
[blockquote]Ya know, since you know the exact moment I hit the “submit” button, your “dibs” isn’t necessarily valid. I may have to give “dibs” credit to Emmy.
Oh and why didn't the swing seat say G.N. and H.W. instead?
Because those initials are stamped on the whip handles.
Do we really want to know about your "tingly, fruity sensations"? I mean, isn't that TMI?
Sorbet! We call it SORBET!!
Happy Tara's drive and the flashback worked for you. Otherwise, the chapter wouldn't have been posted.
I think the friendship forged between Willow and Donnie that day will be an important part of upcoming chapters. Yes, I have a plan that even you are not privy to...yet.
Yes, both are blaming themselves for the disagreement; though Tara is recognizing fault on both sides whereas Willow is carrying the full burden. And, no, you're not being spoilery.
Ah, yes...the color red...the hue Tara worked so hard to mix. It will play a role in future updates.
I had to keep the poem. It's such a wonderful device.
Right now, here, for the first time in 8 years, they just need to simply, be.
Uh huh.
As always, thank you so much, watty.[/blockquote]
Miss Kittys Ball O Yarn[blockquote]
Second DIBS! I'll have to come back on Saturday to do a full review...but let me just say now...NO....you can't leave it there. *Sigh* I cant believe they are finally at the tree...I was sure you was going to drag that meeting out for all of eternity! grin
Okay I'll be back this weekend.
Uh oh. **Strips Emmy of her "dibs" title**
Thanks for keeping up with the story, Emms. Glad you're still enjoying.[/blockquote]
Willow~Rosenberg[blockquote]Congratulations! You get "dibs" by default! (See above replies to watson and Emmy.)
I never said I would be fair.
Thanks for sticking with the story. Glad you're enjoying it.[/blockquote]
Naeryn[blockquote]So glad you like Tara's family, Megan. I enjoy writing them.
I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading and leaving kind words, Megan.[/blockquote]
cebrau[blockquote]Thank you, Ceci! I'm glad you're going to carry it around in your pocket. So happy you're still enjoying the story.[/blockquote]
sam[blockquote]Thank you, sam![/blockquote]
grimlock72[blockquote]Thanks so much for the well thought out feedback, Grimmy. I appreciate that you're keeping up with the story and taking time to leave feedback.
I'm glad the chapter made you laugh. I wanted to go for a bit of lightheartedness even though quite a bit of the update was rather angst ridden.
It did surprise me that the swing was still there in the public park after 8 years. Must have been a proper build swing.
Mr. Maclay did a good job, didn't he? Plus, Willow was there to keep an eye on things for 4 years...and then she had Buffy to take over for her when she left for college.
I never doubted they would meet at the arranged place and date. It's more a matter of what type of meeting it will be. If they don't want to speak to each other anymore, they can just have quick talk and be on their way. Something has to happen/give to prevent that.... we'll have to see how their initial talk goes. (assuming they talk and not go all silenty)
Oh, there will definitely be talk. It may not happen right away, but talk
will happen.
And Tara's mom is fine. More will be revealed about her in future updates. But, rest assured, she's fine.
Thanks, again, Grimmy![/blockquote]
outofhabit[blockquote]Welcome to the thread, Jenna! I'm so happy you found my story and that you're enjoying it. I hope future updates keep your interest. Thanks for your kind words.[/blockquote]
AntigoneUnbound[blockquote]Mary ~ Once again your words astound me. I'm constantly amazed -- the authors whose stories I've read and adored for the last 7 months are leaving positive feedback for *my* story! I pinch myself daily.
You consistently take us between the two times and use the swing as an allegory for the space between them. The swing is still there--but it's changed, at least insofar as context is concerned. It's no longer a solitary, quiet place where only the two of them go. It's now crowded with other people. Their lives are crowded with other people and other realities. But the swing remains, and it will always be theirs.
Okay, so I admit that the allegory was
totally not intentional. It's strange that I always avoided delving too deeply into allegory when I was teaching because I always felt uncomfortable with my knowledge, yet somehow I found a way to incorporate it into my story. Huh. Wonders never cease.
the tree; the rope of the swing; the metal affixed beneath it. For some reason, the all spoke of things that hold over time: organic, and enduring.
Now THAT I was going for! So yay for it working! But there is more to the story of the tree and the swing...future updates will tell that story.
I also love that you make Tara human....your Tara was hard and unforgiving.
Thanks for saying that, Mary. As much as I love Tara, I think she is often canonized (in the sacred, biblical way, not the Buffyverse way) unjustly. We seem to forget that she is just as fallible as anyone else. She isn't perfect. She said it herself. "There's no such thing as perfect." And, I think, Tara cherishes her imperfections and the imperfections of others...even if they do get in the way sometimes.
I'm wondering if either of them ever kissed anyone else, or fantasized about anyone else. How have they come to know their own bodies, their own sexualities?
Those are very good questions. Questions I have pondered myself as I've constructed this story. There will be more discussed about these issues in future updates. Some issues will be discussed more than others, and we'll learn about them through conversation, flashbacks and diary entries. But they'll show up again.
If I ask really nicely, will you write more?
Of course I will, Mary. I've already been threatened with an ass-kicking by watson if I even
think of abandoning this fic. That scares me.
Again, thank you so
very much, Mary. Your kind words give me warm fuzzies inside.[/blockquote]
Drut[blockquote]Thanks so much! I'm glad you still like the story. More questions will be answered in future updates. I promise.
[/blockquote]
The Rose24[blockquote]Thanks! There will be more answers. As for how soon...well, that depends on how I define "soon".
Thanks again for your kind words.[/blockquote]
Foomatic[blockquote]
I felt myself reading the last half really slowly, wanting to take in every word, I wanted to feel what they were feeling.
I'm so glad you had that experience, Foo. That is how I felt as I wrote it. I took my time; I closed my eyes and felt it as I typed.
That was one hell of a reunion scene you put together.
Aaawww thanks, Foo. I'm so glad you feel that way. The reunion isn't over...I hope I do it justice.
Thank you so much for reading along, Foo. I really appreciate it.[/blockquote]
YMKA[blockquote]Thanks, Marina...I'm glad you're still with the story. I told you I'd have them in the same place at the same time.
Your words are very kind, M. I appreciate them.[/blockquote]
SallyMcFine[blockquote]
probably safer not to be reading fan fiction while driving.
Uh....yeah....I'd have to agree with that one.
Still v. interested in what the disagreement was about and how they will resolve it. I hope that they do resolve it, but of course not without some serious working-out of the issue. Anything that was serious enough to make Tara not talk to Willow for an entire year, even if she later thinks that she was too severe, needs some serious addressing. And apologies. And smooches. Smooches later, of course, after Willow forgives Tara.
You don't ask for much, do you, Sally?
Fear not...there will be much talk and working-out of the issues. It may not all happen at once. It may not happen when you might expect. It may not happen the way you expect. But it will happen. Smooches? Smooches you say? Hmmm...I'll have to think about that.
I guess that I want them both to forgive each other, but not blindly. With understanding and acceptance first.
Well said. I hope I don't disappoint. Gotta make sure watty keeps me up to snuff on the not disappointing.
Thanks so much, Sally. Getting such nice feedback from a writer such as yourself makes me happy.[/blockquote]
Kaia[blockquote]
Have I told you how much I love this story?
You have...but you're welcome to keep telling me.
I'm so glad my updates bring joy to your day--though I'm sorry that they have to cheer up a crappy day rather than add to a good one. Thanks so much for your kind words.[/blockquote]
JustSkipIt[blockquote]
Well first off let me tell everyone that Car beat me at a game of Pearl Hunter. That’s right, she won legitimately. I mean, it doesn’t really matter that we played with 100 octopi and she won 1 to 0. Still she won.
WOOT! Go me! Okay...usually Debra beats me by about 3,000 points. So I have to take my victories where I can.
Apparently she didn't connect through Seattle or she'd be in real trouble.
No no...she connected through Charlotte, NC (of all places)
More frequently I see people subconsciously licking their lips or ducking their head but could someone really do that subconsciously?
Well, sure. I do it all the time. I don't consciously make the decision every time I lick my lips. It just happens.
Yay for your awesome and smooth transition. I like this a lot.
Go me, again!
Now of course, I’m working only on speculation but it while I can see that Willow may feel she ignored Tara’s feelings, I can’t see that she ignored her. I mean Willow was the one sending letters and e-mails and Tara didn’t return any of them so Willow’s self-abuse may be in line but it doesn’t seem that that particular thought is quite in line. Interesting also that she still wonders Tara hates her and if Tara will be coming after the postcard.
I can see your point, Debra. I think that Willow is conflating the two ideas...ignoring Tara's feelings and ignoring Tara. I've been in a similar situation...and the self-flagellation kept me from thinking rationally about the situation. I was too focused on punishing myself for screwing up that I couldn't step back and look at what occurred. I see the same happening with Willow. Okay, I'm projecting.
Yay for more angst and guilt! I’m glad to hear that Tara feels she is to blame for the falling out too. She was as much to blame? Really? How so? Make it even more intriguing to find out what the fight was about.
As I've mentioned in other replies, you and others may look at the argument and think, "Yeah? And?" Or you may think, "Holy wow!" I honestly don't know. But as I've also said in earlier posts, I'm not as concerned with
what the fight was about as I am with
how Willow and Tara process the aftermath. Obviously, there needs to be some "oomph" to the argument...as Mary said, it wasn't because Willow didn't return a library book. Looking back on it, Willow and Tara may feel that the reason for the argument was trivial. But they will both be very aware that the emotions behind the argument are anything
but trivial. And that is what they will need to deal with.
Lovely image about Tara painting Willow many times (or at least her hair which would be pretty weird).
Yeah, that would be pretty weird. The "mixing of the paint to match the color" will come into play in future chapters. I promise.
Ok, you said you were going to slow down your updates (or something to that effect). It seems to me like the next update should be pretty easy to write: two women alternately hugging each other and crying and touching each other’s faces saying “you’re really here?” and collapsing into tears again. Repeat.
Okay, so I'll tell you this much. That isn't going to happen in the next update. Or the one after that.
There
will be some "pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming" moments (minds out of the gutter!), but nothing quite so dramatic. Though it's a good idea! Perhaps something for a future challenge?
Thank you so much, Debra. I'm so happy you're keeping up with my story. I appreciate your feedback...it's always so insightful.[/blockquote]
Artemis[blockquote]
Sure you can subconsciously nod satisfied...ly... my atrocious conjugation aside, that is. It's where you don't realise you're in a satisfied-nod kind of mood, but are, subconsciously. Willow doesn't actually give a satisfied nod, nor does she consciously think satisfied-nod thoughts, but without realising it her brain is stealthily being filled with satisfied-nodness.
Thanks for having my back on that one, Chris. I actually understood that! Be careful...watty might get jealous if she thinks we're sharing brain cells!
Carleen: you teasy person of tease, you....you still managed to hold off on the explanations until next chapter.
And you're sure the explanations are going to be there next chapter?
I loved the 'in the meantime', though - especially the relationship between Willow and Donnie. Especially especially the nickname 'Pixie', it's so right for li'l Willow. So much so that I can really picture her in one of those costumes, with the little pixie cap and curly-toed boots, and the very short green skirt... that's probably not what you were thinking, exactly. I like how Donnie and Willow reached an understanding, both of them at the same time childlike and mature.
So glad you liked that, Chris. I really enjoyed writing it. Um...no...that isn't what I was thinking, exactly. But I will admit that it's a fun image.
I felt I needed to have some sort of bond between Willow and Donnie...much like Tara and Buffy have a bond. Our girls need another friendly person in their corners.
Without knowing what happened, I still have to conclude that she was very upset by whatever it was, for her sensible side to overrule her forgiving side, and keep her from resuming contact with Willow before she felt she could do so comfortably.
Hopefully the "argument reveal" in a future chapter will be worth the wait.
The poem was a great way to start. I love that the simple "Hi." "Hi." was there, because to me that simple greeting is what's needed, but I also love that it wasn't the first thing they said to each other - it would have been too obvious. With the poem it's like Tara reminded Willow (and herself) that they have a bond that can't be broken, no matter how much it can be tested.
Well said, Chris. As I mention in my disclaimer/notes, this whole thing started as a response to my own challenge -- hence the use of the poem. When I decided to expand the story and give it a separate thread, I thought about discarding the poem. But it's such a marvelous device. It works beautifully on so many levels. I just had to keep it.
Thank you, Chris. I really appreciate your kind, thoughtful comments. And I especially appreciate your treatment of this story on Looking Glass.[/blockquote]
Aine[blockquote]Welcome to my thread!
So does Tara have kids, or a kid? because at the beginning of the update with the whole "moooooom are we there yet?" thing kinda threw me, cuz she got out of the car alone when she went to meet willow. i'm confused and well.
No, she doesn't have a kid. Yes, she is in the car alone. Tara was basically whining to herself. You know how little kids will constantly ask their parents "are we there yet?" whenever they have to take a fairly long car trip? That was my little homage to childhood, car ride whining. Tara had been traveling for so long...she couldn't find anything on the radio...it felt as if the car was moving at a snail's pace....so she started whining.
I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. I hope future updates continue to interest you.[/blockquote]
LesbianJedi87[blockquote]
silly silly me putting Trojan like viruses on the computer
What is a lesbian doing playing with Trojans anyway?
Thank you for not throwing your cell phone at me again.
I'm so very glad that you enjoyed this chapter. I hope the following chapters hold your interest....and maintain the need to NOT throw anything at me.
Thanks, Rose! I appreciate your support and wonderful feedback.[/blockquote]
anything to do with why they fought?
I loved this part...especially the end...that was....well it like you were actually there, with them. Can't wait to see what was the arguemnt...how/why Willow ignored Tara....
So then I drove the 45 minutes back home, and here I am... 
*sigh* how romantic. What a perfect way for Tara to reintroduce herself into Willow's life. And then...sniff sniff, you end it there with two spoken "hi"s.
