Such an outstanding story on this theme - you work with the challenge, again Outstanding. 

All I can say is WOW.   So insightful of all the hidden pain and getting all the truth out there.  This is a fantastic read!  

Really good. At points, it seems the changes happen too quickly, but I get that you may not want to let the story get bogged down in ta much slower progression.

I just came back and read this again.  Usually don't read 'rape' stories, but this story wasn't that... it was a powerful exploration of the characters and I find myself thinking on the subject because of something I'm writing and I wanted to come back and explore your universe again.  I was not disappointed. 

Thanks again for this.

Peace

Blue

You sure did a great job of creating a great story from the very difficult challenge -  glad that I decided to read this one again before I went on to other of your stories. 

  Wow that was dark.  I usually can't read anything with any form of sexual assault in it, I am pretty sure I only got through this because it all happened in the very beginning of your story.

  That being said this was a great,  if harrowing story.
I was never a fan of Xander until the last half of season seven so a good Xander bash is always good by me, but whew, that felt almost too real.  I had actual hate going on for Xander here.  You wrote (It's honestly a litte disturbing recapping here) The incident...I have a good sized knot in my stomach just thinking about it, and the fallout so, god I just...I can't even review this.

  It was a good read despite everything.  That's basically how I feel.

Your Story was really Great :)

Well done!  Glad to see most everything turns out well.  It was smart using a realistic method like AA's 12 steps for Xander to finally see what he had done wrong. 
Plenty of sweet, a bit of saucy and loads of drama done well.

Wow ... Just wow. I have never hated Xander as much as I do right now. This was an incredible story and I am so glad I read it. Text

Just caught up to this story. Very, very well done. Not the first time I've seen Halfrek put to such good ... use, but I love the way you worked it in here. Sadly, there are times I really can buy a Xander like this, and everyone else's reactions are true to form. Sat and read this all in one go, it did such a nice job of sucking me in. Thanks for an excellent tale!

SQUEEEEE! I'm so glad some one finally wrote this! And you did such a good job too! bravo!!

Text     Beautiful story!  It in a smooth manner, the dialog was great & the ending smooth. Do you write for a       living? Your grammer is superb. Sorry if I misspelled it! My spell-check seems to have gotten lost.
I liked how you were careful with each charactor - the plot was fantastic. Sorry if not coherent. Got a tooth pulled yes'day

Another well written fic with great plot line and flow. Read this in one go tonight to catch up with my reading, RL took over for a few months but I find that I can now look for fics to read and of course, I discovered that my favourite author has 2 fics I haven't read. Thanks again for sharing your talent, will start next fic tomorrow night!

First time reading your work - enjoyed your story very much and think you did a very good job of working with challenge -  One thing that I would have like would have been more introduction and set-up for the rape -  for me, something this shocking from such an important character of the series and who played such a huge role in her life needed to bring me more gradually into this rape treatment. 

Look forward to reading more of your work - 

Very nice ending, even with the letter from Xander.  Good work and thanks so much for sharing it.  I can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeves.

What a story! I read it all in one big gulp, and I'm glad I did. It stayed tense and compelling all the way through.

I especially appreciate the way you hit the bullseye on several psychological issues. The root cause of Scooby disfunctionality? Check. The double standard? Check. Pointing out that when the bad stuff comes down, if Tara-the-Saint keeps quiet, she is enabling the bad stuff? Check. Not flinching in your description of the horrible aftermath? Check. Making Buffy face her own sins? Check.

By now, I must sound as if I hate everyone, and I really don't (I *do* love Tara, I promise. I even love Xander, when he's behaving himself). On the other hand, it was a real joy to read a fanfic with the kind of complexity in characterization and consequences that you introduced. Birth control and AA hardly ever make it into these hallowed pages . For giving them an airing, and for taking the time to write and post this absorbing piece of fiction, I say, "Thank you, with little Spikey sprinkles on top!"

Nice story and good development of the challenge.

A very good story, dark in parts but that makes the good parts that much sweeter.

Really nice ending at least xander and willow finally accepted he had gone too far and wasnt going to be forgiven

Another great story comes to an end *sniffs*. Thank you for all the hard work! And your next story will be posted... when? Not that I'm impatient or anything like that... ;-)

 I think Buffy teaching martial arts makes such sense and always wondered why she didn't do that during the series instead of working at the Doublemeat.  I'm always sad to see a good story end but I think you are leaving this one in a very good place.  You took a very difficult topic and wrote a very touching, thoughtful story and I can't begin to thank you or tell you how much I enjoyed it!  I'll be looking forward to your one.

And Buffy is healing while Xander takes the first step. Very nicely done and you very cleverly made a most improbable challenge scenario very believable.

Who knew Spike was such a pig? I'm glad Xander sent the letter, and that Buffy sort of left the door open "maybe someday".  Oh, and the kickboxing job? Brilliant!
Plus, kudoz to the person who made the challenge, and to you for doing such a great job of it.
Thanks for a great, gripping story, very well written.
 

Thank you for sharing your talent with us.  You managed to create a believable, real world and a believable, frighteningly real Xander, with more demons than usual...  somehow, you managed not to demonize him or turn him into something two dimensional... you made us hate what he did without losing all feeling for him. 

I especially appreciate the AA amends.  AA has transformed people who would otherwise be irredeemable.  Just making amends can change both the alcoholic and the recipient of the amends, even when it cannot undo the damage.

It takes a great deal of restraint, talent and emotional discipline not to take easy potshots.  I feel like you've honored our characters and it was well worth the investment of my time to read this.  I'm a fan of Spuffy, but Xander is probably the character I find most interesting of the three primary characters b/c of his 'lostness' and brokenness -- so I have a soft spot.  I also have trouble with any story I see that bashes and tears down any of the characters (even Kennedy, who I can't stand)  I just hate bashing as a form of entertainment.  Despite the nature of this story and the potential to go straight for the throat, you put a great deal of thought and nuance into this and I respect you and your work a great deal.  If you're not earning money for your writing somewhere, I hope one day you will, if that is your desire.  I believe you have what it takes to craft really good work and to touch people deeply.  I look forward to whatever comes next!

Peace,

Blue
DeepBlueJoy
http://www.tthfanfic.org/authors.php?no=12717&list=profile

Well, I'm sorry to see this end, but I thoroughly enjoyed every bit. Good on you!