Posted as part of 2015's Challenge Month!
Artists: Wonder and Ashes
Characters: Buffy, Spike, Giles, Willow, Xander, Angelus, Anya, Cordelia, Darla, Dawn, Drusilla, Ensemble, Joyce, Kendra, Other, Oz, Wesley
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Fighting, HEA/HFN, POV, Romance
Warnings: Adult Language, Attempted Rape, Character Death, Sexual Situations, Torture (Physical), Violence
Challenges: Slayer of Slayers
Event: 2015 Challenge Month
Completed: Yes Chapters: 20
Word count: 68,441 Hit Count: 64,646 ePub Downloads: 587
Published: October 01, 2015 Updated: November 17, 2018
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1. Chapter One: Helpless by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 48 Comments: 35 Word Count: 2,891 Hit Count: 9,968 Published: October 01, 2015
This was written in response to a challenge from tempestt, and posted as part of Challenge Month. I've always loved reading stories in which Buffy and Spike meet under different circumstances, and it's why this challenge spoke to me; it incorporates the idea of Angel never being cursed with a soul and the Whirlwind never breaking up, thus never coming to Sunnydale, so Spike's history and Buffy's history will be a little different, which I'll reveal over the course of the story. This first chapter includes dialogue from the season three episode "Helpless".
2. Chapter Two: Slayer of Slayers by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 41 Comments: 26 Word Count: 2,522 Hit Count: 3,787 Published: October 02, 2015
I was originally going to post this tomorrow, but I got too excited about introducing Spike so I decided to post it today, instead. And for those of you who are wondering, yes, I'm planning on at least trying to update my other WIPs this month since they're challenge responses, as well.
3. Chapter Three: Life Story by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 36 Comments: 25 Word Count: 3,368 Hit Count: 3,786 Published: October 05, 2015
So this is where the different back stories are explained, or at least, Buffy's is. There'll still be some bits revealed later on, but the bulk of it will be here.
4. Chapter Four: Escape by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 30 Comments: 16 Word Count: 3,089 Hit Count: 3,526 Published: October 10, 2015
Fair warning, this is mostly just a filler chapter. I need to get Buffy and Spike from Point A to Point B, and that's what happens in this one. To make up for it I should hopefully be posting the next chapter (in which a lot more happens) within the next two days.
5. Chapter Five: Meet the Family by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 32 Comments: 19 Word Count: 3,004 Hit Count: 3,566 Published: October 12, 2015
For those of you who are wondering about Dawn, she's not the Key in this fic. I wanted Spike to have good interactions with Buffy's family, and in canon season three that's limited to just Joyce. With Dawn, there's more family goodness.
6. Chapter Six: Morning After by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 27 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,412 Hit Count: 3,493 Published: October 19, 2015
Originally the morning after scene and Buffy telling her friends what happened was all going to be in the same chapter, but then it was getting rather long so I decided to split it in two. The Scoobie fallout will be in the next chapter.
7. Chapter Seven: What Friends Are For by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 30 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,038 Hit Count: 3,252 Published: October 26, 2015
8. Chapter Eight: Night Out by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 32 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,932 Hit Count: 3,233 Published: November 02, 2015
I'm just getting into the swing of NaNoWriMo, but I had time to post this chapter. It was definitely one of my favourites to write.
9. Chapter Nine: A Death Wish by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 35 Comments: 16 Word Count: 3,791 Hit Count: 3,010 Published: December 18, 2015
So I was embarrassed to discover that I had three whole chapters written of this story, waiting to be uploaded. This is the first. I'm aiming to get more written before I post the other two, but we'll see how things go.
10. Chapter Ten: Realizations by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 30 Comments: 13 Word Count: 2,403 Hit Count: 2,926 Published: January 15, 2016
Sorry it's been so long again. I was hoping to write some more of this story in advance before I posted this chapter, but writer's block is still giving me trouble, and other stuff cropped up to keep me distracted. I have another chapter written and ready, but I don't know when I'll post it.
11. Chapter Eleven: The Fallout by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 31 Comments: 16 Word Count: 3,494 Hit Count: 2,909 Published: January 29, 2016
So this is the last pre-written chapter I have. I'm not sure when I'll get more written, but hopefully you all won't have to wait too long.
12. Chapter Twelve: Aftermath by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 27 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,558 Hit Count: 2,820 Published: April 27, 2016
Sorry for the wait with this one. I'm getting back into the swing of things now, for real, so there should be more updates coming soon for all my WIPs.
13. Chapter Thirteen: Whirlwind by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 31 Comments: 15 Word Count: 3,239 Hit Count: 2,669 Published: September 08, 2016
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone! Here's a (very long awaited) update!
14. Chapter Fourteen: Betrayal by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 24 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,760 Hit Count: 2,537 Published: February 06, 2017
Sorry it's been so long.
15. Chapter Fifteen: Busy Nights by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 26 Comments: 13 Word Count: 2,784 Hit Count: 2,427 Published: March 10, 2017
In celebration of Buffy's twentieth anniversary!
16. Chapter Sixteen: Bad Girl by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 18 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,929 Hit Count: 2,359 Published: October 23, 2017
IMPORTANT: Please see my end notes.
17. Chapter Seventeen: Consequences by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 22 Comments: 12 Word Count: 4,159 Hit Count: 2,002 Published: November 09, 2018
Long time no see with this one, right? I think I can finally finish this story, only it's a lot shorter than I originally planned. I decided to cut it down at first because I didn't want my muse wandering off on me again, but looking over my plan now I'm actually much happier with where I want this story to go. I ended up cutting out a lot of unnecessary filler, and the new plan is clear instead of fuzzy. If I stick to it, this story will be twenty chapters long, meaning there's four chapters to go including this one. Let's just hope my muse sticks around for the homestretch.
18. Chapter Eighteen: Enemies by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 20 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,672 Hit Count: 1,880 Published: November 12, 2018
19. Chapter Nineteen: Choices by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 23 Comments: 16 Word Count: 4,354 Hit Count: 2,074 Published: November 15, 2018
20. Chapter Twenty: Lovers by Wonder and Ashes - Likes: 50 Comments: 34 Word Count: 4,042 Hit Count: 2,420 Published: November 17, 2018
Last chapter!