New Fic - Neverland

[dorksrcool]

Holy shit there's an update to "Neverland." I'm starting to believe there's a god too. You know Heather, I've seen you on the board lately and I always want to PM you or post in this thread and say, "Pretty please update your fabulous story," but I know that's rude. I know that real life gets in the way so I just sit and wait patiently but secretly think it will never get updated again. I cannot describe how ecstatic I am that it did, for many reasons like this....

Why would Willow want to live in a cubist hurricane lamp?

And this....

The girl owned her.

You, my friend, rock! And that's why there are going to be some very happy Kittens feverishly reading this update tonight. Thank you so very much for the joy that is this bang your head against the wall, agonizingly frustrating, and truly exceptional piece of fic.


amy

[Shandem]

i swear this is the bestest birthday present ever. an update to one of my fav stories

[Reallybigpineapple]

A Neverland update... I had to re-read the update thread! I had forgotten there were such things! Thank you very much for bringing that dark clouded world back, I've missed it!
But I can totally relate to the real lif stuff, since I never get anything done anymore either...
Glad to see that Tara is starting to smell the coffee a little bit... Since this isn't actually real life, where I'm an emotional coward, I'm with Anya on this one!
Maybe Tara should try to paint Willow instead of trying to get her out of her mind? But, hey what do I know? I'm an awful painter and I know nothing of that creative process...
The only bad thing about a Neverland update is that it ends and you know you have to wait for the next one...
Oh, and by the way, Neko signed her name on my t-shirt while it was still on my body (good moment...) and said she appreciated our love and support (we were at the front) and she played my request. Good times! She's a darling... A a very attractive woman! Tiny, but very hot.

Anyways, thanks for the fix, Heather, and I'm so excitied (and apprehensive...) about the upcoming weekend!
Martina

[mole]

YAHOOO!!!!!!! Okay, that scared the crap out of my cat who was dozing on my desk, but damn! What a wonderful surprise this morning.

Welcome back, Heather!

You've captured Tara's confusion so well...from every thought being about Willow to the toting of the bills all over the house like some link to the tangible world. Being in love with a "straight" woman is not easy, as Tara is finding out. And the turmoil Tara is feeling is so very real. You know you shouldn't because you're just going to get hurt and yet, every thought reflects your love for this "unattainable" person. Ouch.

And I toss in a yippee for more description of Tara's painting process. Reading about the thick, layered white paint and how the flames will jump off the canvas brought home the look of the painting. Sure wish Tara had a studio in Denver:)

Kudos to Dawn for getting it right away. Good luck with the straight girl, indeed.

Thank you Heather, for making my morning. Reading this was much more fun than struggling with the Organizational Behavior paper that's due in a mere 36 hours. Someone tell me again why I decided to go back to school?

Hope your muse is not, once again, kidnapped by real life.

Michelle

[Thianne]

i can't believe you updated and i'm so unbelievably happy! please, don't stop again because i love your story and i hope to see it finished someday

[mudrat]

*de-lurks*

Hey, *waves*

I've been lurking about here for a bit over a year now, and figured it was about time I actually left some feedback - after all, it was this fic that brought me to The Kitten in the first place (although I must credit Chris' 'Through the Looking Glass' for getting me hooked on uberfic to start with).

I'll start with something simple: I love the way you write. That's not something I say lightly; in fact I've only said it to one other writer. Not to say that I don't like other authors here... there are many fantastic authors who post on The Kitten (many of whom I owe a *lot* of feedback)... it's more that the way you write just clicks with my brain - it flows so smoothly, and I find it so easy and such a pleasure to read.

I love the characterisations of the main characters... so original within the context of your story, yet still so much 'our' Will and Tara, with many of the same quirks and traits that they display in canon - you've made them, in this alternate reality, so very real. I also have to say that I really like the way you've written Xander... I've always had a soft spot for him, and it's nice to see him depicted as more than a goofball, and to see the close friendship that (I believe) he and Willow were always meant to have.

In this chapter in particular, I also like the way you write Tara's thought processes. We all have those periods of intense contemplation, with thoughts swirling around in our minds... following one specific thought only to have another one suddenly pop back to the fore, seemingly from nowhere. I think the way you've captured that process is awesome... it's clear and easy to read; and gives us an accurate insight into Tara's emotions, insecurities and confusion regarding Willow - without disrupting the flow of the story.

I really hope you see this fic through to its conclusion. Actually, I'm willing to beg and offer bribes for you to do so, cause this is the one fic that has drawn me in so much that if I don't get closure on it, it will niggle at my brain until it explodes. Seriously. OK, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

I think we all know how inconvenient real life can be (*especially* when it interferes with fic!!), but be sure that we'll all be here waiting patiently, no matter how long it is between posts.

Looking forward to the next update,
mudrat

*returns to lurkdom*

[Kaia]

Wow...God does answer prayers, no doubt about that.
Thank you so much for updating, I think we were all dying for some more on this fantastic story.
And yes, the pace was agonizingly slow, but it was solid. I hope you find time and inspiration to update regularly and frequently...hehe.
Love the story.

Thanks,

Karinna

[notl33t]

I've been dancing for a day, and I think I'll still be dancing for a while...

Poor, confused, smoking hot Tara. Poor, confused, coming out, smoking hot Willow. Will they ever be smoking hot together in the sun?

I can't wait for the next update.

[WillowRTaraM1]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! holy CRAP

-edited to add actual feedback-

Heather!

Ok ... once I got over the extreme shock of finding an update.. I must say (quite predictabley) I LOVED it!!!

I also must join in with the chorus of 'Poor Tara'! That feeling of complete and total confusion is such a bad one. However.. Im so glad that she is confused about it! Shes not automatically writing off her chances with Willow and thats a great thing! Progress is certainly being made here... im beginning to get excited!! Ok who am I kidding I was already excited Thanks for making my day.. and my week for that matter

Heres hoping it wont be another 5 months until another update!!

[caz]

Heather, you've updated - thank you. I've caught a cold and have been feeling rough but this has perked me up.

Poor Tara, she's more confused than ever by Willow. My advice is to relax by taking a hot bath, and hopefully Willow, Anya and Dawn's words will start to make sense (especially Dawn's).

I'm intrigued by what Willow is doing at Khalil's place. I get the feeling that it involves another present for Tara.

Looking forward to your next update.

Caz

[pipsberg]

Hi baby. What a lovely, wonderful update. I know it's been a while since your last update, but honestly I could barely tell. Your previous part flowed right into Tara's reflection and I didn't miss a beat. I was especially fascinated by Tara's preoccupation while trying to paint. She could scarcely function with all the thoughts of Willow swirling in her head. It was really very easy to imagine the way she felt. You wrote it so vividly. I also loved her conversation with Dawn(ie) Her rabid intellectualism was hilarious. Reminds me a bit of myself when I get on a tirade I felt Tara's need to talk to someone about Willow so sharply. I can really imagine how hard it is for her to be so close to all the people that know Willow that she can't really speak to them about it. The fact that she opened up to Dawn - sort of - was very sad in a forlorn puppy sort of way. It's great to see her thinking about Willow's mind set and questioning rather than assuming all things revolve around Xander. It's progress, albeit slow, but progress none the less!

As always, I eagerly await more. xoxo

[skeeter451]

Yay! An update! Happy days are here again!

I *loved* Dawn in this part. She's so cool.

I wanna be like Dawn and on the Neo-Cons.

--->Susan

[WillowRulez]

Well, I am very very happy to hear that you plan on finishing this fic. You can take your time as long as you do I know RL can be a bitca.
So Tara is starting to think hm? Very good. She almost got it figured out there. I wish she'd just paint Willow and when Willow goes to the vernissage she'll see it and tada! Hehe. Guess it's all too easy in my mind.
I really can't wait for the moment Tara realizes that Xan is not the enemy and that he knew about her all along. Hi-larious.
I like that Willow is seriously looking for a place. Cuz, let's face it, even if (when! i meant to write when!) they fall hopelessly in love it wouldnt be such a good idea to live together right away. Yes, they have lived together but that was not as lovers. Though I wouldnt mind of course if they would. No siree. No problem here.
I was sitting here, yelling at Tara to finally call Buffy. But no, you made Dawn answer the phone. But that was even better, Dawn can be much more perceptive.
[blockquote]"Okay, he was your husband. Leave the 'partner' business to people who can't get married, and lawyers, okay?" [/blockquote]
Score!

[Krokador]

Wow! Such.A.Great.Update !!!!

You got me hooked, you got me gripping on my chair arms, and now I'm begging for more!

I just love how confused you make Tara sound, reminds me of... me! The whole no inspiration thing seems just so real, makes me wanna see them get together.

Update soon?

[spells42]

I'm so very happy to see an update to this outstanding fic. It's such a pleasure to immerse myself once again in this world with these people.

I was struck by the reflective mood of the first half of this update. Your detailed description of the minutiae of Tara's actions and surroundings built up a wall of quiet in my imagination so that I felt I was experiencing the quiet of the apartment: the calm of the sanctuary from the storm, both the physical (the apartment from the rain and thunder outside) and the emotional (opportunity to think and work thru' her feelings after the tumultous morning with Willow). You have a wonderful ability to bring life to a scene, demonstrated here and in your previous updates. The intrusion of the storm - rain splattering on the windows etc. - mirrors the turmoil caused by Tara's inability to resolve her confusion over Willow. She has temporary respite, but her feelings and new discoveries about Willow still attack her concept of Willow and her decision to 'move on'.

Then the phone call with Dawn brings us back to earth... The conversation was refreshing, with her enthusiasm for the various causes balanced by her humorous self decprecation:

"One of several clubs I've joined, though, not to meet boys. Officially." Tara snickered at the preventative denial. "I'm surprisingly passionate about a large and diverse number of hot-button issues these days," Dawn continued. "I can tell you why a lot of people are wrong about a lot of different subjects. It's kind of liberating, actually."

Her opinion on the use of 'partner' and other ways of referring to our 'significant other' won't have helped Tara much, tho'. (Just as an aside, 'girlfriend' doesn't sit too well if you're over 40: it seems like a term for the young. 'Lover', while accurate, would tend to be a bit of a conversation stopper. So, what do you say if your relationship hasn't reached the level of commitment that justifies 'wife'? (or the het. equivalents) ) . I loved how Dawn saw right thru' Tara's smokescreen and her parting line..

"Good luck with the straight girl."

Poor Tara, confused and upset over Willow, embarassed over her exposure to Dawn (and by extension, Buffy), and frustrated by her inability to focus on painting. I hope she gets a break soon.

Thanks
Anne

[Guppy]

Nice attempt to sneak the update by us just casually mentioning it in the update thread. I yelped when I saw it anyway and did quite the happy dance. I'm glad RL got out of the way long enough for you to update my favorite story in the world!

I love having the whole chapter deal with what's going on in Tara's head. She's had a lot of stuff thrown at her in the last day or so, so this time should help her get it sorted out a bit. Dawnie should have helped too. Your descriptive powers are as excellent as ever. You might as well be filming this, I can see it so clearly in my mind. You capture every minute detail of where they are and what they are doing. It's beautiful to read. Thank you so much for updating. I can't wait to read your next update in the near? future.

[irishgrl3]

Heather,
Happy 2006 to you as well! It just blows me away all of the responses to this fic. It must take you weeks to read and respond, and shoot ya got to write chapters as well. I am so impressed!

This chapter was great, I like thoughts from Tara. Bummer that she can't seem to get anything on canvas though. Boy is she preoccupied or what? Willow thoughts have taken over her brain. You know when these two finally get together it probably will have the force of an atomic bomb... It may even be seen all over the west coast. Ha-ha!

Anyway, take care and have a great Holiday this weekend!
-anna

[willowspiritus]

YES!!!! You had the time to respond to all our begging/feedback and write this wonderful update. Thank you so much for this. I really enjoyed the conversation with Dawn and like always you write the character perfectly. Very funny! Nice to see that the word partner has Tara wondering and keeping a little hope alive.

The last Tina Dico is very nice but the first keeps a special place in my heart. I have to listen to the new one some more to get the same familiar feeling.

Real life? Yeah not a big fan Maybe i will give it another try tomorrow

[barnabasvamp]

Unbelievable, another wonderful update.

So happy to have you back.

BV

[LesbianJedi87]

Hey an update I read it even though I said I wouldnt hehe But Im glad you werent offended by that remark Heather!

We'll see ya next year

[JustSkipIt]

Heather – yay for Real life.

Part 41 – Ok, I started reading your replies and couldn’t find mine so I looked for my feedback and couldn’t find that either. All very strange. My leading theories include that I was thinking that the more feedback people leave, the less time you have for writing the story and a little mouse ate my … keyboard? Anyway, I was remiss.

Just Anya’s existence makes Willow so uneasy. She turns the corner the moment Anya walks up. I mean “mechanical pencils”!??? Awesome. I love the way both girls are so intently going over their encounter on the street-trying to figure it out. Putting so much into it.

Why in the world is Willow nervous about seeing her mom, and Buffy?

Yes, Tara. That’s a good question…

You’ve done a fantastic job with Anya. She’s funny and her dialog with Tara flows beautifully. Of course Anya wants a construction worker—that will work out well. He he.

I really love this line:

"Fine," Anya said, slapping her hand against her leg. "I suppose tagging along with a valued customer who is spending money is a valid excuse for just loitering and molesting the inventory."

Why do I feel like this is setting something up?

Tara exhaled deeply and closed her eyes, trying to cool down. After a long moment she reopened her eyes and said as calmly as she could, "you can say she's gay all you want, but unless Willow says it, unless the words 'I'm gay' come out of *her* mouth, it's not true."

I’m really touched by Willow’s reaction to Good Vibrations. Of course what Anya did was completely inexcusable and Willow’s reaction seems reasonable. And I love the fact that she accidentally gave Buffy a vibrator for her birthday. Canon but hysterically funny too.

What a fantastic update.

Part 42 - I found this update to be quite a departure and I had to read it twice to figure out why. I’ve become so used to the amazing way you have with the two person interactions in this fic that it took me a little while to notice what was missing. I feel as if in most updates, Tara and Willow are doing a little dance with their movement, thoughts, and words. But here it was just Tara. But then I noticed that she was still doing the dance. It was just that each motion, each detail of what she was doing seemed to highlight the fact that she was alone at home. The update felt like her apartment was big. I don’t know how to explain it but it was almost like the reader could feel the loneliness of the possibility of Willow leaving.

Tara seems to be finally asking exactly the right questions. And I love that she’s going to call and talk to Buffy about it. I mean Buffy’s been gone for weeks and it’s been easy to forget how close she and Tara are so I love that Tara’s finally going to bring her into the conversation. But instead we get Dawn and what a great Dawn she is.

"Hey, Dawnie," Tara led, her voice curious. "What would you think if a straight person referred to their boyfriend or husband as their 'partner'?"

Cool that she just went ahead and asked Dawn and cool that Dawn had something to say about it. As an aside, we have an acquaintance (friend of a friend type) who I’ve heard countless times introduce his girlfriend as either his partner or his lover. And I’m kind of like thinking, “girlfriend? Fiancé? Date?” In a way, I feel like lover is way too much information and partner kind of like Dawn says, kind of belongs to those who can’t get married. But I digress. I also love how Dawn is insightful enough to actually wonder if Tara’s wondering if Willow is gay. Well done, Dawn.

Fantastic update. I’ll be interested to see if the next update is on Willow.

[The_Lord_J]

Awesome

More, more more!

I was almost beginning to give up hope that this fic would ever be updated, but thankfully I was proved wrong

Great to see that Tara is now at least on the way to figuring out the obvious, but I'm still on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens on Willow's end of the story. Argh, the suspense is killing me (as it has been for some time now!). It's like, we get a little bit of an update which makes us all ecstatic for a couple of hours, and then we all start pining for more...

Can I just say that this is the only fic that I check every day for an update; normally if a fic hasn't been update for months I just leave it alone and forget about it until it catches my notice; this one however has made it to the 'favourites' folder and gets checked every day because it's too good to let it die

Keep up the awesome work!

[leipreachan11]

62 pages of misunderstandings... would you not let the poor things have some relief?

[terra21]

**I wrote this last night but lost my wireless internet, so here it is today***

Heather,

It amazes me how I can read an update 3 months after I've read the last one and pick right up where you left off without missing a beat. It's kinda like that relationship you have with your best friend. You know, the one where no matter how long it's been since you've last talked, you just pick up the phone and the conversation starts where the last one ended. I remember it all and it fits like an old shoe.

It's heart wrenching and gut punching the way these two secretly harbor feelings for one another but can't get affirmation. I feel so sorry for them both, yet as the reader I find relief in knowing both sides of the story. Tara's internal monologue about "their home" was pitiful. It hurt. Her inability to concentrate on work because of thoughts of Willow was so true to RL. I was glad to see the comic relief of her conversation with Dawn.

I can always count on you to invoke emotion in me, H. I mean that in a sterile, non-stalker-ish way. I've been on the road lately (as I am tonight) and I find comfort in reading stories from DCP. I've especially found comfort in "Neverland" while traveling. I believe it was almost two years ago that you began this story and I remember vividly rushing back to my hotel room to read updates. I say this next thing knowing I run the risk of being shunned from the KB but...I almost don't won't it to end. Not only because of having something to look forward to reading while away (or anytime for that matter), but because it is such a wonderfully crafted piece of work.

Good stuff (as always).
t

[The_Lord_J]

I second the 'not wanting it to end' (i.e. continue forever more...) motion

[wimpy0729]

Wow another amazing update. I am always in awe of how you take us inside the minds of these girls. I loved Tara possibly getting some insight via Dawn. Could we possibly be getting a little confusion cleared up? Oh, that would be so nice.

Still loving it Heather!

More soon please.

Wimpy

[FineyMcFine]

Hey Heather - I'm so glad you're continuing Neverland. I love the pace and am also glad that you're not leaving anything out. The more chapters you add, the more clear it becomes that this is your vision and it's just great.

I was struck in this update how close Tara is to putting two and two together. She has a lot of data, she just hasn't quite strung it all together. And Dawn, on the other hand, who is not so enmeshed in the situation, can see pretty clearly. I would venture to guess that part of what's keeping Tara from coming to the inevitable conclusion is fear - both of being wrong and of being right.

Also, I wanted to mention just how much I love what you've done with Dawn! What a great character. I especially love the line about how she's found herself passionate about a lot of causes. She seems happy and confident and very full of life even though her participation in this scene was a voice over the phone - a testament to how well you wrote it. Bravo, and I can't wait to see what's next.

[Willow~Rosenberg]

Hey Heather! Great to see you posting again. I hope everything is going well for you.

I've been negligent with feedback after a tough semester at college, but I did read your last update and this one. Wow! Tara is soooo close to figuring it out, but her mind just does not want to go to that conclusion. She picked up on some of the clues Willow was dropping like "partner" and that she was worried about the upcoming weekend discussions.

Tara getting the courage to call Buffy was a step in the progress direction. It was very nice to see Dawnie make an appearance. Loved how she went on a rant about the term partner... lol.

I'm still very curious how this all is going to play out... how Willow is going to handle telling people. I hope it doesn't blow up in her face. Then again, this is the Kitten board... so it all has to end W/T in some way, shape, or form.... Great update as usual. Take care.

[TuesdayStar]

Would Willow really want to live in a place like this, without Tara? I don't think so... The Folsom Lantern will just have to find itself another tenant.

[center][/center]

[watty]

Reflective Tara. Seems like the realization is just beyond her consciousness, even though I feel like it'll take a hammer or an very heavy anvil for her to fully come to terms about a) her feelings towards Willow and b) how that is reciprocated.

More misinformation and jumping to conclusion about the brochures. Just because Willow is looking and receiving marketing brochures doesn't necessarily mean she has found somewhere to move into and will be leaving Tara's apartment.

That she is feeling so busy in her head that she finds it difficult to paint, is so real to me. She knows she's under the wire, but those creative cells simply refuse to get moving. On the other hand those Willow-thoughts cells are screaming out for her attention. Yep, yep, very understandable.

Somehow my thoughts turn to Buffy. Tara's first thoughts were to confide in her, meanwhile Willow is planning to come out. Buffy is going to be very busy receiving and disseminating information -- I wonder if she will have a part to play in future events.

Dawn is a delight. A more than capable backup for Buffy, and hurrah that she saw through the "I'm asking on behalf of a friend" routine that Tara put up. It's so blindingly obvious to an observer like her, now the protagonist herself need to see it too.

Still loving this story. Please don't feel obligated or pressurized to update, take your time. As several people have pointed out, and I'd like to echo, the quality of your story is such that it takes no effort to immerse myself into the story, however long the break. I hope that your RL gets more manageable (ie, normal) soon, and it's not just because I'm selfish and look forward to more.
[br]