Aspectus by Kirinin [PG-13]
Past Featured Story
Summary: A spell to ‘make Buffy as she was’ pulls college-aged Buffy into a future where her mother’s gone, her best friend is a hazard, Giles is worried, and Spike’s in love.
 
On her return, Buffy begins to navigate the world using an entirely new roadmap, forging alliances and laying the foundation for a hopefully happier tomorrow. Meanwhile, things aren’t going so well for Spike and Dawn in the future…
 
A story about making friends and keeping them.
 
Beta and Sensitivity Readers: None
Artists: None
Categories: Season 4, Season 6, Time Travel
Characters: Buffy, Spike, Giles, Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn, Ensemble, Joyce, Original Characters, Oz, Parker Abrams, Riley Finn, Tara
Genres: Drama, Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, Queer Themes, Romance, Under Magical Influence
Warnings: Abuse, Adult Language, Mental Health Issues
Completed: No Chapters: 38
Word count: 185,539 Hit Count: 35,040 ePub Downloads: 299
Published: June 15, 2023 Updated: July 07, 2023


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Story Notes: First: HUGE thanks to cd85 for the incredible banners! It was a challenge since this story occasionally has more than one of the same character, and they rose to the occasion so admirably. Then they created a specialized banner each Book, so we are doubly blessed!
 
A few notes before we get going!
 
All parts of this story are strongly influenced by Spike, but there are parts where he is temporarily MIA. I'll get through posting early chapters as quickly as I can so you can all meet up with him again!
 
This is a Spike/Buffy romance where a glimpse of the future changes Buffy's attitudes and approach towards her life in general and Spike in particular. It's also an ensemble story with near-equal focus on Buffy's and Spike's platonic relationships, and has many of the same themes as the original Season 4: people are monsters, monsters are people, and we need everybody's strengths to defeat evil in the end. Even Riley gets a fair shake, which some readers may not like. Hence my warning: no bashing here! (Perhaps it should go without saying, but I prefer no outright character bashing in my comments, either; I have to read them.)

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

1. Book One: Chapter One by Kirinin - Likes: 46 Comments: 31 Word Count: 4,617 Hit Count: 3,724 Published: June 15, 2023

2. Book One: Chapter Two by Kirinin - Likes: 37 Comments: 7 Word Count: 4,624 Hit Count: 1,089 Published: June 15, 2023

We are going to FLY through this, y'all. Expect frequent updates for Book One!

Thanks to all for joining me so far, and to all who have left likes and reviews!

 

3. Book One: Chapter Three by Kirinin - Likes: 38 Comments: 10 Word Count: 5,152 Hit Count: 1,035 Published: June 16, 2023

4. Book One: Chapter Four by Kirinin - Likes: 37 Comments: 12 Word Count: 5,565 Hit Count: 986 Published: June 16, 2023

5. Book One: Chapter Five by Kirinin - Likes: 33 Comments: 13 Word Count: 5,170 Hit Count: 939 Published: June 17, 2023

6. Book One: Chapter Six by Kirinin - Likes: 40 Comments: 23 Word Count: 6,547 Hit Count: 938 Published: June 17, 2023

7. Book One: Chapter Seven by Kirinin - Likes: 32 Comments: 11 Word Count: 6,640 Hit Count: 892 Published: June 18, 2023

8. Book One: Chapter Eight by Kirinin - Likes: 33 Comments: 11 Word Count: 4,506 Hit Count: 837 Published: June 18, 2023

9. Book One: Chapter Nine by Kirinin - Likes: 25 Comments: 8 Word Count: 3,513 Hit Count: 822 Published: June 19, 2023

10. Book One: Chapter Ten by Kirinin - Likes: 27 Comments: 10 Word Count: 4,619 Hit Count: 763 Published: June 19, 2023

11. Book One: Chapter Eleven by Kirinin - Likes: 34 Comments: 16 Word Count: 5,026 Hit Count: 937 Published: June 19, 2023

12. Book Two: Chapter Twelve by Kirinin - Likes: 29 Comments: 13 Word Count: 4,203 Hit Count: 952 Published: June 20, 2023

Huge thanks to the incredibly talented cd85 for our Book Two banner! Now, without further ado...

 

13. Book Two: Chapter Thirteen by Kirinin - Likes: 29 Comments: 11 Word Count: 4,132 Hit Count: 826 Published: June 21, 2023

Well, helloooo Willow's downward spiral!

14. Book Two: Chapter Fourteen by Kirinin - Likes: 31 Comments: 14 Word Count: 3,627 Hit Count: 757 Published: June 21, 2023

15. Book Two: Chapter Fifteen by Kirinin - Likes: 39 Comments: 11 Word Count: 4,705 Hit Count: 940 Published: June 21, 2023

16. Book Two: Chapter Sixteen by Kirinin - Likes: 27 Comments: 6 Word Count: 4,905 Hit Count: 773 Published: June 22, 2023

17. Book Two: Chapter Seventeen by Kirinin - Likes: 32 Comments: 9 Word Count: 4,092 Hit Count: 805 Published: June 22, 2023

18. Book Two: Chapter Eighteen by Kirinin - Likes: 29 Comments: 9 Word Count: 1,860 Hit Count: 853 Published: June 22, 2023

19. Book Two: Chapter Nineteen by Kirinin - Likes: 32 Comments: 8 Word Count: 5,611 Hit Count: 753 Published: June 23, 2023

20. Book Two: Chapter Twenty by Kirinin - Likes: 34 Comments: 12 Word Count: 5,070 Hit Count: 820 Published: June 23, 2023

21. Book Two: Chapter Twenty-One by Kirinin - Likes: 39 Comments: 12 Word Count: 4,472 Hit Count: 807 Published: June 24, 2023

22. Book Two: Chapter Twenty-Two by Kirinin - Likes: 33 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,851 Hit Count: 790 Published: June 25, 2023

23. Book Two: Chapter Twenty-Three by Kirinin - Likes: 34 Comments: 11 Word Count: 2,308 Hit Count: 769 Published: June 25, 2023

A quick interlude before we launch into Book Three.

Note: This chapter has some disturbing elements in the form of off-screen abuse and its consequences. Reader discretion is advised.

24. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Four by Kirinin - Likes: 33 Comments: 9 Word Count: 3,371 Hit Count: 790 Published: June 26, 2023

25. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Five by Kirinin - Likes: 36 Comments: 8 Word Count: 5,100 Hit Count: 763 Published: June 26, 2023

26. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Six by Kirinin - Likes: 40 Comments: 13 Word Count: 5,533 Hit Count: 851 Published: June 27, 2023

27. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Seven by Kirinin - Likes: 34 Comments: 11 Word Count: 5,908 Hit Count: 841 Published: June 28, 2023

28. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Eight by Kirinin - Likes: 35 Comments: 15 Word Count: 5,144 Hit Count: 853 Published: June 29, 2023

Batten down the hatches!

29. Book Three: Chapter Twenty-Nine by Kirinin - Likes: 37 Comments: 11 Word Count: 5,134 Hit Count: 816 Published: June 30, 2023

30. Book Four: Chapter Thirty by Kirinin - Likes: 33 Comments: 10 Word Count: 3,907 Hit Count: 796 Published: June 30, 2023

31. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-One by Kirinin - Likes: 36 Comments: 9 Word Count: 4,298 Hit Count: 770 Published: July 01, 2023

Spike processes the trauma of the past year for the first time. Angst ahoy.

32. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Two by Kirinin - Likes: 31 Comments: 7 Word Count: 5,984 Hit Count: 700 Published: July 02, 2023

33. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Three by Kirinin - Likes: 37 Comments: 13 Word Count: 7,971 Hit Count: 752 Published: July 02, 2023

34. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Four by Kirinin - Likes: 30 Comments: 10 Word Count: 10,499 Hit Count: 814 Published: July 03, 2023

These next few chapters are where we earn our 'abuse' tags, alongside Candice's issues. Reader discretion is advised in this chapter and the next.

35. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Five by Kirinin - Likes: 42 Comments: 21 Word Count: 5,866 Hit Count: 784 Published: July 04, 2023

This chapter has some disturbing elements in the form of off-screen abuse and its consequences, and discussions of institutionally-endorsed torture and murder. Reader discretion is advised.

36. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Six by Kirinin - Likes: 30 Comments: 7 Word Count: 4,206 Hit Count: 774 Published: July 05, 2023

37. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Seven by Kirinin - Likes: 36 Comments: 11 Word Count: 3,754 Hit Count: 798 Published: July 06, 2023

38. Book Four: Chapter Thirty-Eight by Kirinin - Likes: 47 Comments: 19 Word Count: 4,049 Hit Count: 1,130 Published: July 07, 2023