Summary: Someone dies and has a regret. The regret requires fixing. That fixing involves Spike and Buffy. Of course, it all goes haywire. Or does it? Set in the future and in season 4 of BtVS.
Rating: R (for language and sexual situations)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss owns all.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to all my Spuffy friends from long ago who read all the old fanfic just like me. And a very special thank you to eyesthatslay who is reading all the chapters as I write them and has been encouraging me to keep on going with the tale. *big squishy hugs* The banner you made for the story is absolutely gorgeous!!
None
Artists: None
Categories: Season 4,
Post-Series,
Alternate Reality,
Time Travel
Characters: Angel,
Anya,
Buffy,
Cordelia,
D'Hoffryn,
Giles,
Harmony,
Joyce,
Lorne,
Maggie Walsh,
Original Characters,
Riley Finn,
Spike,
Willow,
Xander
Genres: Action/Adventure,
Drama,
Fighting,
Humor,
RomanceWarnings: Adult Language,
Blood Play,
Sexual Situations,
Torture (Physical),
ViolenceChallenges: Anything you want!
Completed: Yes
Chapters: 41
Word count: 107,695
Hit Count: 72,516
ePub Downloads: 700
Published: May 29, 2017
Updated: September 19, 2017
Print or Download Story: 
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1. Prologue, A Death and A Regret by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 15 Word Count: 1,633 Hit Count: 9,760 Published: May 29, 2017
Author’s Note: This fic was inspired by several of the challenges in the challenge section of Elysian Fields, but it fits none of them perfectly. It actually fits DeamonQueen's; I had bookmarked a few different Angel fixes things challenges, and when I went back to look, I realized it fit this one! (Started this back in March 2017, but it’s been on the back burner to Seasonal Spuffy and Finding the Way Home.) As I tried to think of a title for this fic, all I could think about was taking chances and so I did a Google search and this song sung by Celine Dion popped up. I was unable to find a beta, so this fic is unbetaed. Sorry in advance for any mistakes.
2. Chapter One, An Unusual Wedding Day by sandy_s - Likes: 31 Comments: 17 Word Count: 2,934 Hit Count: 3,323 Published: May 30, 2017
3. Chapter Two, The Morning After by sandy_s - Likes: 30 Comments: 13 Word Count: 3,749 Hit Count: 2,878 Published: June 02, 2017
4. Chapter Three, New Dimensions by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,523 Hit Count: 2,536 Published: June 05, 2017
Okay, this plot fast forwards a lot of stuff in the BtVS series as you shall see...little bits here and there. I'm posting chapters as I write new ones, and I'm up through chapter nine with a few interludes, so new chapter here!
5. Interlude, An Unforeseen Consequence and An Admission by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 12 Word Count: 788 Hit Count: 2,070 Published: June 06, 2017
There will occasionally be a mini-interlude. 
I haven't written Angel and Cordy much, but I'm actually enjoying them. Cordelia is so freeing!
6. Chapter Four, A Momentary Climb in the Right Direction by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 10 Word Count: 3,039 Hit Count: 2,137 Published: June 07, 2017
7. Chapter Five, An Unexpected Turn of Events by sandy_s - Likes: 29 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,456 Hit Count: 2,007 Published: June 09, 2017
This is an important chapter... and so much fun to write. Hope you enjoy.
And y'all! Look at the beautiful banner that eyesthatslay made for this story. (You can see the big version in the first chapter...)
8. Interlude, All Is Not Finished by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 11 Word Count: 734 Hit Count: 1,850 Published: June 09, 2017
9. Chapter Six, A Bit of Pillow Boat Talk by sandy_s - Likes: 28 Comments: 12 Word Count: 2,855 Hit Count: 1,867 Published: June 11, 2017
10. Chapter Seven, The Tangled Forest by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 11 Word Count: 2,987 Hit Count: 1,811 Published: June 14, 2017
11. Chapter Eight, An Escape and A Light in the Darkness by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 11 Word Count: 2,814 Hit Count: 2,019 Published: June 16, 2017
12. Interlude, In Which Confusion Reigns by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 9 Word Count: 1,124 Hit Count: 1,630 Published: June 17, 2017
13. Chapter Nine, The Discovery of an Unforeseen Similarity by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 10 Word Count: 2,455 Hit Count: 1,615 Published: June 19, 2017
14. Chapter Ten, The Reality of Going Home by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,647 Hit Count: 1,678 Published: June 21, 2017
15. Interlude, A What-the-Hell Moment by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 9 Word Count: 446 Hit Count: 1,513 Published: June 24, 2017
16. Chapter Eleven, A Taste of the Future by sandy_s - Likes: 28 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,157 Hit Count: 1,493 Published: June 25, 2017
Thank you for the lovely reviews for the last Interlude...I'll reply soon, but I wanted to post because husband and baby and I are about to go run errands.
17. Chapter Twelve, Role Reversal by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,495 Hit Count: 1,525 Published: June 27, 2017
There's the tiniest little homage to Gort and Sunalso's "Where Have All the Wings Gone?" in this chapter with permission from Sunalso. And it's fitting that it's in this chapter.
18. Chapter Thirteen, Shifting Dynamics by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,721 Hit Count: 1,562 Published: July 04, 2017
Huge thank you to Ceruleansoul who will now be beta-reading this fic! She is so sweet to take it on, and I really appreciate the help! She's already caught typos and had me enhance a couple of things.
19. Interlude, Time to Refocus by sandy_s - Likes: 20 Comments: 10 Word Count: 517 Hit Count: 1,445 Published: July 05, 2017
20. Chapter Fourteen, Demon Therapy by sandy_s - Likes: 20 Comments: 10 Word Count: 2,929 Hit Count: 1,530 Published: July 06, 2017
Just as a preface, I very, very rarely dislike a client. In general, I consider human beings as people who have good intentions and I can usually find a redeeming quality in anyone I work with. This does not mean, that on occasion, I don't have a strong aversion to wanting to do therapy with someone. So, for this chapter, I channeled my annoyance...and hahah...a lot of Spike's reactions are my own (in Spike speak, of course). Buffy is easier to make therapist-like, and Anya is an easier client. (Sorry for the long intro note...but I couldn't resist.)
21. Chapter Fifteen, An Essential Conversation and An Arrival by sandy_s - Likes: 23 Comments: 13 Word Count: 3,308 Hit Count: 1,456 Published: July 12, 2017
Thank you so much to Ceruleansoul for the lovely beta job and constructive criticism. 
22. Interlude, The Thing About First Loves by sandy_s - Likes: 21 Comments: 13 Word Count: 1,173 Hit Count: 1,367 Published: July 17, 2017
23. Chapter Sixteen, Those Damn Army Guys by sandy_s - Likes: 20 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,651 Hit Count: 1,432 Published: July 19, 2017
Thank you so much for the beta help, Ceruleansoul! *hugs* :D Apologies in advance for the wrench in the peace...
24. Chapter Seventeen, The Red Inside by sandy_s - Likes: 21 Comments: 15 Word Count: 3,483 Hit Count: 1,352 Published: July 26, 2017
Lots of thanks to Ceruleansoul for the beta help! 
25. Interlude, Trusting the Process by sandy_s - Likes: 13 Comments: 9 Word Count: 727 Hit Count: 1,117 Published: July 29, 2017
An interlude and chapter today...
26. Chapter Eighteen, An Unexpected Turn of Events, Part Two by sandy_s - Likes: 25 Comments: 16 Word Count: 4,180 Hit Count: 1,280 Published: July 29, 2017
An interlude and chapter today...
AUTHOR'S WARNING: Torture implied in this chapter. I originally tried to write Maggie Walsh and Spike's scene and got about one page in and couldn't stomach it, so only implication, no showing.
HUGE THANK YOU to Ceruleansoul for her beta help and discussion of the events coming...I was so nervous about this section of the fic.
27. Interlude, Holy Toledo, Batman by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 11 Word Count: 865 Hit Count: 1,283 Published: July 31, 2017
28. Chapter Nineteen, Wish Granted by sandy_s - Likes: 23 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,696 Hit Count: 1,268 Published: August 02, 2017
Thank you to Ceruleansoul for the beta help and for tweaking that one paragraph in particular and making it so much better!
29. Chapter Twenty, The Walls Come Tumbling Down by sandy_s - Likes: 18 Comments: 6 Word Count: 4,032 Hit Count: 1,258 Published: August 08, 2017
This is a long chapter... Thanks to Ceruleansoul for the beta and for making me think about the way I word things!
30. Interlude, How Does This Vengeance Thing Work? by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 9 Word Count: 816 Hit Count: 1,162 Published: August 09, 2017
Just an interlude to go with yesterday's chapter...
31. Chapter Twenty-One, New Employee Evaluation by sandy_s - Likes: 17 Comments: 8 Word Count: 3,315 Hit Count: 1,239 Published: August 13, 2017
New chapter and short short interlude today! Thank you, Ceruleansoul for your help! 
32. Interlude, Told You So by sandy_s - Likes: 23 Comments: 10 Word Count: 181 Hit Count: 1,234 Published: August 13, 2017
Thank you so much to Ceruleansoul for the lovely beta on the chapter and interlude I posted today (8/13)! Super huge thank you to Synefred for this wonderful song suggestion! (I totally downloaded it and have been dancing around to it any chance I get!)
33. Chapter Twenty-Two, Home Sweet Home by sandy_s - Likes: 26 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,084 Hit Count: 1,329 Published: August 17, 2017
Lots of thanks to Ceruleansoul for the beta help! You are amazing!
And Sunalso, please let me know if I need to tweak something from a nursing perspective...it's just a little part. *hopes it's not too mucked up*
34. Chapter Twenty-Three, Confessions by sandy_s - Likes: 30 Comments: 15 Word Count: 4,292 Hit Count: 1,292 Published: August 22, 2017
Special thank you to Ceruleansoul for betaing!
Nervous about this chapter...
35. Interlude, What Next? by sandy_s - Likes: 21 Comments: 9 Word Count: 811 Hit Count: 1,110 Published: August 27, 2017
Thanks to Ceruleansoul for the beta help!
And I owe replies to your generous reviews for the last chapter, but my focus has been all over the place with the storm. I promise I'll get to them soon...
36. Chapter Twenty-Four, Times, They Are A Changin’ in a Good Way by sandy_s - Likes: 24 Comments: 12 Word Count: 4,286 Hit Count: 1,170 Published: September 04, 2017
Unbetaed so sorry for any mistakes... Again, sorry for the delay...this has been written for a while, but my brain has been distracted with the weather and I haven't read over it until today. Two more chapters and a couple of more parts after this and it's done. It's already written. It'll just be a matter of getting it looked over!
And again in this chapter, a little homage to Sunalso and Gort's chicken wing fic. :D
37. Interlude, Hell Yeah by sandy_s - Likes: 16 Comments: 11 Word Count: 585 Hit Count: 1,043 Published: September 10, 2017
Unbetaed...errors may abound... I'll try to polish up the last few chapters soon!
38. Chapter Twenty-Five, Mayhem Managed by sandy_s - Likes: 23 Comments: 11 Word Count: 4,050 Hit Count: 1,077 Published: September 11, 2017
Unbetaed again... but I did set it aside for a while and then read over it. Sorry for any typos.
39. Chapter Twenty-Six, A Sign of Things to Come by sandy_s - Likes: 22 Comments: 14 Word Count: 4,809 Hit Count: 1,225 Published: September 15, 2017
Last chapter before epilogue-y stuff... Unbetaed so errors are all me. Thanks for all the reviews from last chapter! I will reply soon... chasing baby today because I took a sick day but it will be soon. Promise!
40. Epilogue, A Very Merry Christmas by sandy_s - Likes: 27 Comments: 13 Word Count: 3,542 Hit Count: 1,199 Published: September 18, 2017
Unbetaed so errors are all me... Hope you enjoy this epilogue! I'm sorta feeling sad that this is the end, but there is one more interlude following this chapter... Thank you so much for all the kind words and for reading my little tale that I thought would be four or five chapters and ended up being the longest fic I've ever written.
41. Postlude, A Death and a Thank You by sandy_s - Likes: 51 Comments: 30 Word Count: 2,806 Hit Count: 1,374 Published: September 19, 2017
This is it...the last chapter. I'm so sad! But I'm also happy...I love this little fic.
And thank you so much to all of you who read it and liked chapters and/or left reviews. I truly appreciate all the love you gave the story! It was fun to write...and a challenge.
(And I never ever thought I'd write a re-write of the season four Initiative arc...always thought it would be too hard. Ah well, that went out the window...)
Thanks to Ceruleansoul for betaing a good chunk of the middle of this fic! And a huge thanks to eyesthatslay for encouraging me to keep writing it in the first place (and for the beautiful banner)!
