Summary: Six months after the Battle of Sunnydale, Buffy is trying to settle into her new life in London: patrolling, training new Slayers, and studying English Literature. But it's not great for her grades that strange demons are appearing all over the city – and it's not great for her sanity that she's suddenly dreaming about Spike.
1. Chapter 1 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 25 Comments: 17 Word Count: 2,805 Hit Count: 3,521 Published: November 11, 2019
I don't write a lot of fic, and when I do, I usually write one-shots. Nothing plotty. Nothing too long.
This… broke all the rules. More than 50,000 words of Buffy/Spike, dreaming, rain, London, and Theodore Roethke poetry, with some Sylvia Plath kicked in. And plot. So much plot. I'm terrible at plot. I really don't know, guys.
I have all but the last chapter and the epilogue written, but I'll be posting this slowly, since I need to revise each chapter as I go. Speaking of which… I know no one in this fandom, and am without a beta. This story could use one pretty desperately (see above re: terrible at plot). If you know of a beta par excellence who might be willing to help me out, or if you are one yourself, please do let me know.
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all recognizable characters, locations, and dialogue belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the show writers, none of whom I am associated with.
This story includes quotes from a fair amount of poetry and prose literature, including epigraphs for each chapter; it also borrows from several critical interpretations that are not my own. As much as possible, I'll be crediting these in the chapter end notes.
2. Chapter 2 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 25 Comments: 13 Word Count: 3,096 Hit Count: 2,244 Published: November 17, 2019
Thank you to all those who commented! It's always lovely to hear from folks. I got a couple of comments that made me realize that I hadn't indicated whether Angel season 5 is canon in this universe. To clarify, this fic goes AU post-Chosen. I've updated the fic summary to reflect this, but I figured I'd mention it here as well.
Also, I have a beta now! Thank you to everyone who messaged me. The lovely stalwartsandall is catching my terrible typos and trying to wrangle my penchant for overly long sentences. Any remaining errors are mine.
With this chapter, we've reached the poems. As will be my usual MO, links and citations will be in the endnotes. However, I will mention up here that the fic title is from "Light of the House," by Louise Imogen Guiney.
3. Chapter 3 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 17 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,273 Hit Count: 1,456 Published: November 20, 2019
As before, a huge thanks to stalwartsandall, who is already proving herself to be an untiring trooper. And a thank you as well to everyone who has been reading and commenting – glad to have you along for the ride!
4. Chapter 4 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 20 Comments: 10 Word Count: 4,224 Hit Count: 1,516 Published: November 22, 2019
5. Chapter 5 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 17 Comments: 8 Word Count: 3,363 Hit Count: 1,549 Published: November 24, 2019
We're finally getting out of the classroom and into the graveyard! Huge thanks to stalwartsandall, whose edits made this chapter so much more coherent and understandable.
6. Chapter 6 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 18 Comments: 10 Word Count: 2,611 Hit Count: 2,321 Published: November 27, 2019
Bit of a shorter chapter today and a bit of a longer one next time! As usual, big thanks go out to stalwartsandall.
Also, a happy American Thanksgiving to all celebrating! May your holiday be full of love, family, perfectly cooked turkey, divine stuffing, much pie, and absolutely no bears.
7. Chapter 7 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 22 Comments: 13 Word Count: 4,084 Hit Count: 2,267 Published: November 30, 2019
I hope everyone who celebrated American Thanksgiving had a fantastic holiday (and that we're all now recovered from our food comas). Happy almost-December!
8. Chapter 8 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 19 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,988 Hit Count: 2,338 Published: December 03, 2019
Thanks as usual to my brilliant beta, stalwartsandall! Remaining typos are, of course, all my own.
9. Chapter 9 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 20 Comments: 13 Word Count: 5,966 Hit Count: 2,304 Published: December 06, 2019
Into the second half of this story, and now we're really rolling! Double-length chapter today.
Thanks go out to stalwartsandall, my beta extraordinaire. I also want to redouble my thanks for all the lovely and thoughtful comments I've received on this fic. It's absolutely incredible to me that people are involved in this story, thinking of theories, following along. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.
10. Chapter 10 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 17 Comments: 12 Word Count: 4,392 Hit Count: 2,199 Published: December 09, 2019
Some unbelievably kind person nominated me for Author of the Month! I'm honoured and beyond grateful. I continue to be blown away by the reaction to this story and am incredibly thankful that you've all chosen to devote time and attention to something that I wrote. Much, much credit goes to stalwartsandall, whose detail-oriented red pen and keen, insightful comments have made this fic so much better. I hope you all enjoy the upcoming chapters!
11. Chapter 11 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 21 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,970 Hit Count: 1,411 Published: December 12, 2019
In which questions are answered! Some questions. A few questions. Okay, look, a finite subset of questions are answered, all right?
12. Chapter 12 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 20 Comments: 12 Word Count: 3,841 Hit Count: 2,097 Published: December 15, 2019
In which a slightly larger subset of questions is answered! My thanks to stalwartsandall, who has been an absolute champ through these later chapters.
I've gotten slightly behind in replying to comments as a result of life circumstances this week, but I appreciate every single one of them, and I will reply as soon as I can!
13. Chapter 13 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 18 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,225 Hit Count: 1,304 Published: December 18, 2019
A little less conversation, a little more action…
14. Chapter 14 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 22 Comments: 14 Word Count: 4,400 Hit Count: 2,054 Published: December 21, 2019
Closing in on the end here! I owe a huge debt of gratitude to stalwartsandall, who caught a pretty glaring plot issue in this chapter and suggested a fix. And thank you to all of you, for reading, for commenting, for spending your time with this story. I appreciate that so much.
15. Chapter 15 by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 12 Comments: 5 Word Count: 3,687 Hit Count: 2,219 Published: December 23, 2019
Happy holidays, everyone! To my fellow members of the Tribe, may your Hanukkah be filled with many lights and all the fried things! Wishing a joyous Christmas to those celebrating, or a happy Kwanzaa, a blessed solstice, or a fantastic celebration of anything I may have missed! Hope everyone's holidays bring them peace, happiness, and well-earned relaxation.
In celebration, have some shameless Christmas fluff! We've arrived: the final chapter of Midway of Speech and Thought. And as a special holiday gift, I'm also posting the epilogue tonight. I hope you enjoy!
16. Epilogue by TheHousekeeper - Likes: 47 Comments: 36 Word Count: 6,587 Hit Count: 2,038 Published: December 23, 2019
NOTE: I just posted chapter 15, so be sure you've read that first!
Well, here we are, folks. A true, heartfelt thanks to those who have been following along, invested in the story and excited to read on. Your kind words and enthusiasm have really kept me going and mean a great deal, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To stalwartsandall, who combines a preternaturally sharp eye, a comprehensive knowledge of English grammar, a critical pen, a love of the characters and the world of Buffy, and a kind nature with the capacity to give excellent advice on everything fic-related (from narrative to posting logistics!) goes my awe and my sincere gratitude. This fic is better for her influence.