New Fic - Neverland

[meretricious]

heather, believe it or not, i'm walking on air, that you updated. ok that's the cheeziest fb ever, but you started it (which oh my god they just showed a greatest american hero clip on access hollywood or et or whatever drivel is muted on my tv right now, freaky!)
no worries about rust, unless you meant to put in one of those horrible angsty misunderstandings that sometimes plague these two and you forgot to...
but otherwise beautiful writing and so many lovely moments, the anywhere but here and the child discussions, ( and gawd now they are showing clips of greatest american hero, and talking to modern william katt and he looks like spike, again freaky)
and the whole exchange about validation, too perfect. but willow could stand to relax a little, i mean apologizing for pot holes? as usual loved the musical references, and tara all worried she wouldn't sound hip enough. willow's usually all worried about being too nerdy, and now tara with the uncool thoughts, will be nice when they both start to relax enough not to second guess their interactions so much. they both obviously enjoy being around each other, and eventually that will sink thru their lovable but thick skulls, right? good.

eta: chicken ravioli, that's the old 97's right? That's been driving me crazy

welcom back!-mary

[Arielle]

Thought I was dreaming...and update! Woot! So maybe you're gonna be on a roll now??

[insanely quirky]

hi heather!
ur back! and in love and to top it all off it's being reciprocated! wow! i'm totally happy for you

and then with the update...you do my heart good...really really love what you've done with this story and can't wait for more...and the fact that im posting a reply would be a real shocker cause i'm really big with the lurking and being anonymous and stuff...

Good Job!!! Can't wait for more!!!

[IceFairy]

Just when I thought all hope was lost and that you would never return even though I and day after day for you to come back and finish one of the best fan fics of all time. And then.... you're back!! Happy day Happy day !
And I love that you found when you needed it the most.....really a great relief to know you are still out there .

[hahler]

this is super heather i hope that someone from mutant enemy or even alyson and amber read this im glad you people on the chat turned me on to this i will spend the next few days reading the rest of them. please continue to write you have a lot of talent.

[Marilda]

No way! I mean I haven't read anything, but I saw your name in the update thread and I literally squealed! You've just made my summer. Okay, I'll go read now and actually get to the whole "giving you coherent feedback" thing. Thanks so much!


Edited to add the actual feedback. And yep still pretty much with the squee! Can I give you a <3? Well, too bad, I just did. I absolutely <3 this story. Like so much. And yeah for musical snobbery, well no, not really, cause of the whole making Tara feel kinda uncool thing, but yeah for me and for you cause you have good taste and I like TV on the Radio alot and yes, the Moz is on occassion whiney, but still with the good. Although The Fall? Not my favorite. Still, thanks for always displaying how important music is to Willow. It makes her more real to me. And apparently, I have alot of similarities to your Willow. Now, if only I can find a real-life Tara...

[Lythande]

Ahhhh! An update to Neverland! My llife has meaning again!

Thanks, Heather, for this lovely update.

Yay!

Jerri

[BFR from Paris]

Welcome back, I got all excited when I saw your name on the update thread! Thanks mucho for the update and for your reply, I knew you had a master plan! If I remember correctly, Willow has yet to come out and feels obligated to move out, and Tara has turned down a hottie but hasn't told anyone that she loves Willow (who she thinks loves Xander), am I correct? And they both have wet dreams

Anyway, I certainly hope you & your gf didn't take as long as W & T in this story

[watty]

Joining in with the "Welcome Back!!!" chorus, which I hope doesn't give you temporary deafness . Even if it does, you deserve it, and many times over.

And look who's all unhidden and growed up and finished a whole fic since you've been away (*points to self*)

Anyway I thought about whether to join in the inevitable rush to get into this thread or to cool it for a day or so, then leave feedback. But in the end, I'm just going with the flow.

So many great things about this chapter, but one that stands out most, is how easily I was able to get back to the story, even with only a cursory skim through the previous chapter. With some fics that have been idle for a while, it takes a complete read before I can catch up. That is a sign of great writing, and of how this story has become virtually ingrained inside the hearts and souls of every single kitten here.

The intenal conflicts in both W and T are still present, but they are much more relaxed around each other in this outing. Willow is just a scene of conflict isn't she, what with driving past her work tent and the "I'm technically supposed to be at work but I'm not because I want to spend it with you and please don't be mad, I have nothing to do at work anyway".

So many favorite parts, but I have to pick Anywhere but here.

"If you could be anywhere but here now, where would you be?"

"I'd be here."

Tara raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "If you could be 'Anywhere but Here' you'd be *here*, driving down a bumpy street on your way to go see someone you didn't like?"

"But I'm with you," Willow blurted out,

What's that if not a sign? Open your eyes, girls.

Then ... like the proverbial elephant in the room, it's Xander again. That has just got to stop. Tara needs to be told he is not Willow's crush/bf/whatever, and Willow needs to start giving Tara some more to work on.

Just in case you didn't know, thank you, the board is a better place with you here, thanks for sharing your story .


ps I understand your reticence on talking about your persona life and can understand your embarrassment at the attention. Please do accept my condolences and the wish that your family is well. Oh and, having a gf, it sure is a great place to be !

[fabouly]

OMG OMG OMG... you're back!!!

is was so freaking excited when i realised that u left an update! and - just to get that out of the way - i loved it!!! i truely missed this story. and when i saw that there was a new posting, i'd never expected it to be an update... wow!

and just to comment my last reply - i know i said, the story takes to much time in my opinion... F*** my opinion! i totally changed my mind! i read a lot of fics since then and i'll have to say, you're completely right about the rushing-to-bedroom-thing... your story is one of the few fics that take their time to build up the emotions, the friendship, the characters and all the thoughts that appear when you're falling in love... and - what can i say - i love it! this pace makes a difference, keep it!

to your wish, i'll keep this posting completely accorded to your writting - but wish you all the best!

cheers
-fab

[Willow~Rosenberg]

Heather,

First off, I would like to express how happy that I was to see that you had posted in the update thread. I was really getting worried about you. I am so happy to read that you are doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances, but will respect your wishes not to delve too much into your personal life. I am also very happy to hear that you've found someone to love and who will love you back. I wish you both the best.

Second, yep. New name on the new board. Glad you picked up on that so you know that I'm still faithfully reviewing your wonderful story.

Now on to the update-y goodness.

I really lke how you incorporated the Anywhewre But Here reference. I was just watching the episode with that scene in it last week and thought it was cool. Tara missed a few major hints in this chapter. I'm glad Willow had the courage to say that she was happy where she was- in the car with Tara regardless of where they were going. If ever there was a time for Tara to start analyzing what Willow said, now would be it!

That said, Willow is starting to get to a place where she seems almost ready to tell people (other than Xander) that she likes Tara. It shows a lot of progress that she was able to say (mostly) what she meant. First the step forward, and then Xander's there to inadvertantly botch up the progress. It's very frustrating and yet I love it.

Many warm wishes are extended your way for you and your girl. Take care.

[sam]

Heather..glad to have you back . Amazing and beautiful update . Love sam xx

[Artemis]

Welcome back! It's great to see a new chapter, I've missed this story during its hiatus. That said, don't worry a bit about sporadic updates in the future, you've got the best reason of all to leave the keyboard alone for a while. As for your loss, my condolences, I've been there. Best wishes. Now, to the story...

Rusty? I see no rust - just shiny metal as far as the eye can see (sort of like what they thought in the 1950s that the future would be like, before we entered the cheap plastic age). This chapter sparkled and laughed and got in and tugged at feelings just the way I imagine you wanted it to.

You haven't lost your touch with humour - the gallery validating the garage had me laughing out loud 'Ozmosis' too. And as you've done before, you've given Tara her lovely, unique sense of humour that we so rarely got to see on the show - sly and straight-faced, almost poking fun at herself for making the joke, but in a nice, confident way. "Not enough songs that mention carrot juice these days", heh (My personal songs-that-mention thing is answering machines - for something so ubiquitous these days, they don't show up in lyrics very often. Or it could just be that I have limited musical range )

And as I'm sure I've said before - you may not have to worry about being repetetive, but I think I may - you pack so much in. A whole chapter just about the drive to the shops, which could so easily have been skipped without anyone noticing - yet you take it and make something great out of it. You waste nothing, which is wonderful.

There were some interesting clues there, which I wonder if Tara will pick up on - Willow saying she'd choose right here as her 'Anywhere Else', and that she'd happily let her partner have the kids. The latter of course could be an inoccuous enough comment, just Willow's usual humour-sparkled conversation, but later on, if Tara thinks back to it, as she seemed to start doing then... I wonder But perhaps that kind of thought will have to wait until later, at the end of the day when Willow and Tara lay their heads down and, without each other's presence distracting them, sift through the day's events.

Willow skipping work, too - when Tara thinks about it in not so immediate terms, worrying about the possibility of Willow getting in trouble, I wonder if she'll muse about why workaholic Willow decided to blow off work, just to spend more time with her

Assuming nothing disastrous happens with Anya to drive it from Tara's mind, of course

I like their Anywhere Elses, by the way - something for the future, perhaps? Capri, Florence, smoochies Okay, far, far off in the future, but it's nice to dream...

And there's so many other things I haven't touched on, yet you did - Willow's history with Oz and the way she thinks about it, Tara comparing it to hers with Jill, the Xander situation, Willow's reluctant house-hunting... thinking back on it, it shows how much work you put in to keep all these ideas in the air, but on reading it seems so effortless and natural.

Well, great work, I can't say that enough It's great to have you back. And even though there was no relationship disaster in this chapter, I think the 'angry fit' smiley wants to say hi anyway:

[irishgrl3]

Yay Heather, you updated! Wow, yippee, I feel like it's Christmas. Jumping on the kitten band wagon and welcoming you back. We've missed ya!

What sweet interaction in that chapter. I just love Willow's eagerness, trying not sound too excited in her answers. That would totally be me. Two things that crossed my mind that ought to have Tara thinking, one; that Willow picked "here" with Tara in "Anywhere but Here" and two; that she kind of skipped out on work to spend time with her. Slowly, ever so slowy they are coming together. Loved the reference to Say Anything, I loved that part in the movie.
Looking forward to many more updates.

-anna
P.S. Re; RL... So very sorry. And about the gf, congrats!

[thebardgirl]

*thinks up best word to describe her happiness at Heather AND an update*


Um....


WOOOT!


-elizabeth

p.s. fantastic congratulations on you and yours...you deserve some o' that fab-fine love-joy-stuff. Good luck and umm....woot!

[dragonfly]

Hello Heather,
First I'm really glad you're doing fine, and welcome back.
I think it's about time I let you know how much I enjoy your story. This update was so easy to read, I didn't have go back to the previous chapter because once I started reading the whole story came back to me as if I'd finished chapter 37 ten minutes before. That only happens when the writer is as good as yourself.
The girls are close to realize what's really happening; however, a lot of signs, both ways that they're missing. Willow's comment on the: I'll let my partner have the babies. Clear sign for us, but not for them or Tara in this case. I think this is one of the top reasons I read Neverland. In real life, you miss comments like this, it happens to me all the time.
Willow still doesn't notice the change in Tara at the mention of Xander; even though, in this update she was all observ-y. Again, when you have such strong feelings for someone, you worry that you'd do or say something bad or incoherent which will drive them away, and that usually keeps you from seeing what's in front of you.
Good thing we have Anya, I know she doesn't have a lot of fans but I think she can give them some needed push. I'm sure she'll have a good comment for Tara like: "Oh you're so blind that you don't see that she's crazy about you and only wants to give you lots of orgasms", or some other colorful remark to Willow.
I waited patiently for you to come back, and this update was worth the wait. Now, you said you have someone especial in your life, congratulations both of you, nothing better than love and be loved, I just hope she'd leave you some free time and we have our next update soon.
Take good care of yourself, be strong and remember he'll always be in your heart.
Love,
Clau.

[StarCat]

Hi Heather

It is sooo great to see you here again. I figured you needed some time away for personal reasons. I knew you would return when you were ready. Ok I didn't know but I was really hoping you would.

First off can I say, WAKE UP TARA !!! Willow is subconsciously giving you hints. Willow saying that she is going to have her partner have the kids, doesn't sound like a joke to me. Maybe she will think about that later. When they played 'Anywhere but Here' I was holding my breath. I didn't think Willow was going to say it but she did. She said "here" and I was getting all happy like Tara was going to finally see something in Willow's words. But she didn't (of course not that's too easy).

I really love how you pull us into this story. It's like I am sitting right there in between them. ( ok let me dream about that for a second ) Not that they would actually see me because they are so freaking blind.

One more thing, Willow getting caught playing hookie by Tara was so cute. This was such a wonderful update for it to be just the drive over. I can't wait to see what happens when they get out of the car. But I am not complaining. I really like the pace you are going with this.

Congrats on your new love. I too have fallen for someone. Unfortunately, we both are too shy for us to actually get started. I hope you two are very happy and lots of updates are a coming.


WELCOME BACK !!!

[singgirl]

Hey! It's so good to see you are back, and in love, none the less! Congrats! The update was wonderful, and well worth the wait. I'm looking forward to the next one, girlfriend time pending.

[watersong84]

YAYAYAYAY!!!! Update!!!!!

Oh my... I don't even know what to say, I am speechless. The whole occasion is just wonderful! An update! And a great one at that!

I mean, the gallery doesn't validate the garage, it's not like the gallery tells the garage that it's a nice looking cement structure or anything--

Hehe! That had me cackling at my computer for about five minutes straight.

Don't stay away so long this time, k?

-Alyssa

[VixenyTarasHot]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! Welcome back dude!!!

Kristyn texted me saying NEVERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D and i ran straight here lol

Anywhooo... such a good update! What am I thinking.... all of them are fabulous, but still, it's worth saying every time
I still can't believe how blind Tara is.. *shakes head* Cmon.. with the whole "I'd be here... because I'm with you" thing... and then the whole I'd be happy to let my partner be the pregnant one comment... So blind. It was funny that Willow didn't even like do a huge internal freak-out at that.. she didn't even like.. notice she said it, so maaaaaybe they're just getting so comfortable around each other (not comfy enough though!) that little things are starting to slip unnoticably.. Which could lead to other.. "I love you" type slips... eh? I know.. I'm reaching, but a girl can hope right?

I hope to read more soon... although I saw the sporadic comment, and hey go on with your bad self and the fallin in love lol
I just hope this story won't go unfinished... no matter how sporadic the updates!

Ashleigh

[justin]

Welcome back

I'd say this update definitely counts as returning with style

The music talk was interesting, even though I have no idea who any of those people are. Though *ding* the name Peter Gabriel rings a bell.

the Ozmosis line was funny, as was the talk about the shop validating the garage

Hopefully when Tara thinks back over the conversation she'll start to suspect that Willow was giving her an unconcious hint when she said about letting her partner have any children. After all, even if Willow was joking, Tara should remember that many a truth is told in jest.

[littlecrazy80]

OMG!!!!!! I thought I´m dreaming! Welcome back!!!!!

Wonderful, wonderful update!!!!

*lil´c*

[Insanity]

Wooo hooooo!!

You're really back!! And you brought an update...YAY!!!

Soo, Tara is a little stupid these days, huh??

I mean:

I'd happily let my partner have the kids." She smiled warmly and Tara couldn't help but chuckle, the thought of Xander or Oz pregnant hitting an unexpected funny bone.

That's pretty obvious, isn't it?

Well... I loved the update, it's not rusty at all. It's still the same, with the signs and the misunderstandings *ggg* Keep 'em coming!!

Insanity

[cperrins78]

Welcome back!!!!!!! I was so happy to see an update to this marvellous story. Just reading the update this morning made me so giddy. I've missed this story so much. I am so happy that you have found someone and have fallen in love. Now just spread a little bit of that happiness with Willow & Tara. I'm so glad that you are back. I think I am going to read the story from the beginning and relive those wonderful moments between Willow & Tara.


Christina

[Kajun]

WHOOHOO!! I nearly fainted discovering Neverland update-y goodness! And here I thought Cupid didn’t really exist. Good to know I was mythtaken! Eww.. that was bad.. so sorry! What I mean is: Congratulations on finding love!! I hope for a long and happy relationship for you and your partner!

As usual, the quote button could get worn out very quickly but, for your sanities sake, as well as everyone else’s, I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. PS: I’m rusty too…erm.. not that I was ever polished in the first place but umm.. anyhoo..

If only Willow and Tara would learn to read the lines! Now I didn’t say between the lines coz.. it’s right there in the line!! The truth, it’s out there. And you don’t need to be an X-Files fan to see it!

"No!" Willow blurted. Too eager! "No," she repeated, her voice affecting non-chalance. "I wanna go. With you. Out. Out, with you, shopping and stuff." Out, with you, forever.”

This line struck me as funny but also kinda sad (It’s the way most people ((myself included)) often view the fics here on Pens.):

It would strictly be a drive-by viewing.

Hopefully the future of leaving feedback will take a more scenic route in the future! I hope that made sense!!

The sky was uniformly gray, and very dark, and the blonde again had the eeiry feeling that despite the 10:48 staring back at her in blue from the dashboard, that it was indeed four in the afternoon. She pulled the sleeves of her sweater free from her jacket, and burrowed her balled up fists into the soft fabric.

It’s been a while, and I’m probably reading more into this, but is Tara having a memory flash from that day? You know the one. Or.. an event involving that horrible Jill person that you also have yet to reveal? Or… is Tara’s discomfort simply Willow mentioning Xander? (which is enough in and of itself) The red-heads brief excursions down memory lane give Tara additional insight into what makes Willow erm.. Willow-y, but, it would be great to have a few less ‘belly flare’ inducing names in Tara’s repertoire. (This trip should be just the two of them enjoying each other’s company –- no third parties allowed!!) I have some duct tape for Willow if you would like to borrow it on occasions like these!!

I love the exchange between Willow and Tara during the ‘Anywhere But Here’ game, the ensuing babblefest and especially this:

I'd happily let my partner have the kids." She smiled warmly and Tara couldn't help but chuckle, the thought of Xander or Oz pregnant hitting an unexpected funny bone.

"Maybe that will work out for you," the blonde teased, her melodic laughter playing nicely with the song in the background.

"Maybe," Willow said brightly, flashing a radiant smile at her roommate. Tara's crinkled her brow after the redhead turned back to the road. There was something in the way the redhead's green eyes had twinkled...

I agree with the red-head! Hmm.. updates nearly six months apart. With the exception of visualizing Willow’s hair color, I don’t see even a hint of rust. Very well done Heather. It’s sooooo good to have you back!! Now I need to read the feedback that's already been left for you coz that's always good too!! Thank you so much.

[kisstheviolets]

oh my freakin' god. i cannot believe i let a day go by without reading this update. i kept seeing the subject up at the top of the list and i'd gotten so tired of being disappointed by it being bumped up without an update that i didn't bother to check it yesterday. that'll teach me!! welcome back heather!

and about the update... oh dear. i can't tell you how much i missed the preciously frustrating interaction between the girls. like when they played "anywhere but here" and both wanted to be with the other, but then backtracked to make it more "friendly"? adorable - and worthy of a few choice words shouted at my computer

i particularly liked this little bit though:

"Okay," Willow said with a deep breath, nervousness bubbling to the surface. "Remember this morning, when I sort of, implied, that I had the day off?"

"Yes..." Tara replied slowly.

"I don't." Tara frowned and Willow zoomed into explain mode.

i mean, really, how cute is willow there?? and how can tara not pick up on willow's feelings?? i know we're just going to have to wait patiently until you see fit to smack her with the 2x4 of "duh" but who knew she'd be so dense? i'm kidding. i have absolute faith in your ability to make the final realizations totally worth the wait. i will definitely be along for the ride. for now i'll just eagerly anticipate the anya chapter!

thanks so much for sharing your wonderful story with us heather, and welcome back!

brandy
p.s. i started posting with "neverland" and haven't stopped yet

[kristyn]

lol. Ashleigh is totally right. I saw during my history class this morning that this was updated and I honestly almost fell outta my chair. The first thing I did was automatically text her. I knew she'd be excited.

Such a good update. Seriously. They are both soooooooooo blind.

So...incredibly....blind.

I'll patiently await forever for another update.

-Kristyn

[JustSkipIt]

EasierSaid,
First off, I again pass on my condolences about your father. I know you said you didn't want them posted but really? I mean we're all human and I've never "met" a kitten who would fail to respond with sympathy to a loss such as that.

Second, woo and hoo for you and the new woman. That's so fantastically wonderful for you and her too. Tell her we all said hi and welcome.

Third (and perhaps most important). Yay for the udpate. It is wonderful and absolutely seems to be right back on track for this fic. Both of them are back to that awkward but flirtatous mood around the other. I think that this update is probably the closest I've ever felt they were before. Their honest discussions about work, driving, wanting to be together, music, and especially kids, are so close, so intimate. It's really wonderful.

I particularly like the way you have structured this update around the driving and music. It helps the flow of the dialog considerably to weave it into the action and it is quite seamless and smooth. Of course there's the bad of the inside of Tara's head (heart) regarding Xander & Oz but at least it doesn't seem like Willow's head is so in the way today. And for that, I say good for Willow.

Did you know that Entertainment Weekly named Say Anything the best romantic comedy ever? Must admit that I really love it too and the "In your Eyes" scene is a classic. Plus which, John Cusack is just so adorable.

Hmmm... Anywhere but here sounds so familiar . Nice to see it used again. Love the conversation about kids of course. Definitely something to figure out: who to have them, etc. very lovely.

Welcome back and thank you for the update. Debra

[FiestySunnBust]

Welcome back!

Rusty--piffle.

Wonderful and achingly slow timeline, which I love. Thanks for the great update. The ladies need to watch out for that proverbial 2 by 4, that should be heading their way sometime in the future. But, once a couple of things get out in the open, they won't need that smack upside the head.


FSB

[blue eyed girl]

First off I would like to say welcome back. When I saw your name in the update thread I did a double take and then went straight to this thread to read the update. In case you are wondering I am new to leaving feedback for you and not someone else under a new name. I was going to leave feedback after I joined but decided to wait until you updated again, but I have been reading and enjoying this fic since about part 5.

One of the reasons that I love this story is because of all of the detail that you put into every scene. I actually feel like I am there and not reading this story. This for example:

The redhead entered the main room, her head down, the dismayed shake of her head making it difficult for her fumbling fingers to smoothly handle the large buttons of her green courdary jacket.

I could actually picture a flustered Willow trying to get ready quickly after being a few minutes late.

I loved the Say Anything Peter Gabriel reference in this part. The scene with the boom box is my favorite scene in that movie and every time I hear "Your Eyes" I immediately think of that scene.

Like many other readers I really wish Tara would pick up on all the clues that Willow has been giving her as of late. But I can see why she doesn't. With her thinking that Willow is straight and in love with Xander it would take her awhile to believe that Willow could ever have feeling for her. Plus she doesn't want to get her hopes up and therefore get hurt so she isn't going to think that Willow comments are more than just friendship. You have done an amazing job portraying this.

I really love this fic and I am looking forward to reading more.