"Can't you just like… magically lojack her?"   Hahahaha!  That's awesome.

Dawn's anger at Buffy feels so true and perfect.  She had her sister and Faith before, and now her sister is gone and the person who took her place . . . is not her sister at all.  But Faith is still Faith, so of course Dawn wants to protect her from this person who she still doesn't know what to make of.  You really hit the nail right on the head with her reaction to Faith being injured.

And Faith getting teary-eyed at the picture of her and her Buffy.  God.  She's right; not knowing if her Buffy is alive or dead has to be a complete mindfuck.

You do what you do so well, lady.  *two thumbs up*

Oh god, that breakdown in the training room.  My feels.  I can just imagine Faith's pain. It's pretty amazing she kept it together as long as she did.  :(

And then Buffy comforting her, if not awkwardly, to thinking about her boobs, well . . . I was feeling the sting of my prior heartbreak less by then.  lol

Slayerly bonding over food and beer gave me a case of the happies, even though I know it was hard for them both.  Still, at least they can talk now without Buffy being weirdly defensive.  And getting to hear what she's thinking about her own Faith, well, it just makes me wonder what if.  Could they have been as happy as this Faith and her Buffy?  Guh.  Just guh.

Onwards!

It was refreshing to see Dawn giving Buffy a bit of comfort, and even more refreshing to see tht Faith was able to forgive Buffy for her snooping.  Sure it's hard on all of them, but Buffy's in a bad situation too; she's  there with people who walk/talk/look like her friends, but in reality they aren't.  She's all alone.  Having Dawn and Faith on her side is a pretty big deal!

Loved seeing how easily Buffy and Faith fell into a flirty banter together, even after the drama of their previous encounter.  Guess there's no fighting the inevitable.  :p 

And then when they were able to comfort one another after the engagement news . . . guh! All the feels!  Really loving this :)

"It just annoys me how you talked up your straight as an arrow bullshit all this time, when you had this epic love story with the girl who eats her own hair."  LOL!  Aww, poor Tara!  It's okay though, Faith.  At first glance I'd think she was a hair-eater too.  :p

The whole scene in the hotel, with Faith's jealousy and anger and then Buffy's admission, was damn near perfect.  No, not near.  It was perfect.  It's my most favorite kind of Fuffy scene:  revelation, shock, fear, acceptance.  Faith finally admitting "I shouldn't have stopped doing that" made my heart clench in my chest.  Their love scene was beautiful, and then end was hreatbreaking.  You hit all the emotional highs and lows so darn wall.  That's some serious talent you have there, Ms. Wonderbra!

“The kind of soul mates that are meant to be together, no matter how many worlds there are, or what life throws at them. Buffy is Buffy,” he said, almost confusing himself trying to explain. “I’m not saying you have to marry her. I’m just saying, don’t push her away and say you’re doing it for Buffy. She wouldn’t want that.”  Ah, Xander.  He's always the voice of reason when it's really needed.  And really, that was such a beautiful and poignant statement.  "The kind of soul mates that are meant to be together, no matter how many worlds there are."  It's beautiful, and it makes my heart hurt for the Buffy and Faith we know from the show, because they just never got their chance together.

And there I was, all hopeful that maybe Xander had talked some sense into her and then that Buffy was finally making a move, and BAM!  What a train wreck!  Why must Buffy talk with her fists when her mouth doesn't work the way she wants it to!  Ugh.  Faith had every right to be pissed. 

Ugh.  Ugh ugh ugh!  Fix it, Alice!  Fiiiiiiix iiiiiiit!!  lol

Well, I think I've reviewed this story on every site I've ever seen it, which just has to show you how much I love it.  Definitely one of my most favorite one-shots ever.  Perfect story.  :)

Welp.  I tried reading this chapter in bed and got all misty-eyed, and I tried now at work and that's still the case.  That first scene is still just as heartbreaking the second time around.  God, I can't even imagine how Buffy and Faith felt at that moment, knowing it was their last goodbye.  Ahhhhh, tears.   :(

And Tara's statement of "You love her" tugged at my heartstrings again.  God, you're just so good at that.  So much emotion in one chapter.  I swear, I'm not even a crier!  Haha.  Looking forward to what comes next.  Keeping a box of tissues nearby just in case.  ;)

Oh man, bad news for this Buffy.  :(  Not only can they not get her back, but the one person who brings her comfort in this dimension is behind bars for a long long time.  When she broke down after their meeting and her decision to stay, her pain was so real I could almost feel it.  My heart just keeps breaking for these girls.  Stop breaking my heart, Alice!  You are mean.

The visit at the jail started out so well!  There was talking, and snacks, and comforting.  And then:  “I didn’t know you were gay.” She looks back at Buffy, eyes widening. “I didn’t know I was gay. I mean, a little gay, yeah, but like move in with you and have a whole life gay… that’s… wow.”  I can't express how much I loved that. 

I was surprised that Faith got defensive about her Buffy, but I liked it.  It's like, no matter how much bad crap went down, there's still that spark of concern and - dare I say it - friendship, as one-sided as it may be.  Now we just need her to give into her inner gay and bust out so she can make the happy with this Buffy. Ah, my mind is a happy place right now.  :P  Ready for you to break my heart again soon.  Haha.

Dude.  DUDE.  I love your 'version' of season seven.  Uber Witch as the big bad, people trapped in town, some kind of magic bugs, spy birds?  Why did you not write season seven when it aired??  Seriously, that was a really cool time jump into this really cool new 'verse.  And the fact that Buffy and Faith aren't all awkward and angry?  Well, that's just a wonderful wonderful bonus.  Of course the gang is wary, but I have a feeling they'll trust Buffy on this one.  After all, it's not like they can run Faith out of town now!

Seriously love this twist, and super happy that Faith is physically there with them.  Can't wait to see where you take the story next!  You'll be happy to know no cheesecakes - real or virtual - were harmed during the reading of this chapter.  =)

"It’s incredible, how a person can be so lonely, and life just keeps going."

So incredibly poignant.  I can't imagine what Buffy goes through every day there, surrounded by people she knows but not the people she wants, unable to live the life she wants even though it so closely resembles the life she had.  Her lonliness has to be so difficult.  The quick hug Faith gave her when she was leaving the cot made my heart flutter.  Love that Faith gets the physical contact too; I think she needs it probably more than anyone.

The addition of Marcie is a stroke of genius, which I'm sure you're aware of.  :p  Can't wait to read that one-shot you promised.  :D

Loved loved loved the bedroom scene with Faith and Buffy.  It felt so natural, and it was even better because they didn't just start banging.  It was emotional, and I think that's something they need more than physical right now.  I mean, yeah, we all want to see the physical.  :p  But you're doing it the right way, and I commend you on that.  Too many people write sex scenes because that's what the readers want.  What you did is right for the story.  It just fits.  Loved it, the whole chapter.  Keep 'em coming :)

Am I fashionably late?  :P

What's there to say, dear Alice?  I loved this story.  I loved its companion piece.  They were both beautifully crafted and thought out, and I enjoyed every chapter (as rough as the last chapters were for you to finish).

I had to sit and think for a while why I enjoyed the second story so much, and I think I finally know why: it's because it's about the Faith we know from the series.  Not a different version of her where there were no fuckups or epic grudges; this was *our* Faith with all of her scars and flaws and history, and Buffy still loved her; still was able to see all of the great things that we do underneath all the scary baggage.

It's like the Faith we know and love finally got her due.  And it was awesome.

And they deserve to be happy together! 

I was sad when you sent Faith away and was prepared to send you some nasty messages, but you fixed it.  And you fixed it believably and without too much fuss.  I appreciate that!

It's been an excellent ride, Ms. Wonderbra.  I'm ready for whichever journey you're going to take us on next :)

I can't believe you posted this without letting me read it first!  And I can't believe how long it's taken me to review it!  (Or I can, because I am lazy and distracted).  But more than that, I can't believe you're writing Fuffy!  Somewhere in the Midlands, Kahlan and Cara are weeping and consoling each other.  :p

This story is typical of why I loved your writing from the beginning.  Fun, intersting, and sexual tension you can cut with a knife.  My favorite Fuffy recipe!  You still do it so well after all this time, boo :)

Can't wait for more.  I will probably harass you for more as soon as I get in the door tonight, so be ready!  :p  xx