New Fic - Neverland

[rsawest]

Thank you Heather!

[tarawhipped]

Heather, I don't know which made me happier today: seeing that you had updated or going out with a dear friend who was visiting. I'm afraid the update places second, but it was a topic of conversation in the first. I'll leave real feedback tomorrow, but I had to say how good it was to see your nick at the top of the board...and to know that you got those PR checks I sent out. Seriously, dude...so sweet!

Okay, I'm back. You can no longer fool me with dream scenes, but it is an effort to concentrate on everything that happens after. Once again, the dream isn't just sex anymore...Willow's subconscious is certainly telling her that Tara will reciprocate when she finally comes out. I had a lil chuckle thinking about Willow's "I'm not a prude" after the GV fiasco...if Tara could read Willow's mind, she'd say "you sure aren't, ya perv! C'mere!"

I am curious about the "You're too busy" and "you don't know that" thoughts. Does Willow think Tara's too preoccupied with painting stress to talk about the living sitch? The irony of course is that Tara thinking Willow may move out is only adding to her stress. Sigh. I know you've got your Buffy, mom, then Tara plan, but I would love for Willow to come downstairs in a flurry, Tara be all "sorry the thud woke you" and Willow say "oh no, the thud didn't, but then you told me I was late" to which Tara would say "um, I don't think I did?" and Willow would say "oh, not you you...the naked you I was dreaming about." Suffice to say, I'm not holding my breath. But I look forward to whatever actually does happen, and thanks for continuing.

Cam

I've reconsidered in lieu of pipsqueak being a jerk, and decided that your update was far better than seeing that butthead (now that she's gone and can't beat me up ).

[shuyaku]

Heather - I haven't been on this board since before you posted your last update - that's saying something But I had to bring myself out of my self-imposed hiatus when I saw this update. I've been reading fics on this board for several years and this board actually popped my fanfic cherry. I am no longer even close to a fanfic virgin, having read probably thousands of fics - some bad, some good and some great. This story is easily in my top 3 of all time. One of my greatest fears is that this wonderful, amazing story does not come to its rightful and equally amazing conclusion so when I saw an update it was like Christmas come early. I literally had to restrained myself at work from reacting outloud. I promise I can wait for the ending, if you can promise there will eventually be one

Thank you for sharing this amazing couple of weeks in the lives of our favorite couple.

shuyaku

[IamLoui]

*tears*

I love this story.

You rock, EasierSaid.

Fantastic update.

So much love,
Loui

[sadie]

Yaaaaaaaaaaay update!!! I wanted to reply right away but then I thought I should read the update first, and then I thought no, I should read from the start again and get back into the story... so I did and I am very happy

Thanks for the update!! We were piiiiiiiining away!

[DaddyCatALSO]

I'ven't read the update yet but if it involves Willow 's coming out to Mom and/or Buffy, or even setting up the mos-immediate-of-immediate lead-in *to* that, I can certainly understand why this took so long to write,
And even if things aren't "there" yet, I'm glad to see this and will be heading for the new chapter right now-ish.

[willowspiritus]

I havent read the update yet because i just found it on Trough the looking glass but i just wanted to share my happiness and say thank u.

Thank u so much for the update! I was starting to worry this amazing story would never have its ending. I am thinking about reading it from start just to get back in the feeling.

[DaddyCatALSO]

I definitely loved it;while not exactly what I was imagining it's very definitely scene-setting...and I found myself basically lost. What I should have done was scoot on back an re-read the last few chapters so I'd remember the reaction set-ups. (Thru the Looking GLass isn't blocked BTW)
But definitely enjoyed it. Good state-of-the-mind stuff on both.

Thank Gorm Willow dreams in color; that dream would have been even more disturbing without the "hue cues." (admittedly this was the first of the dream sequences I read with even a little care, for a couple reasons)

Darn but I don't remember what Michelle is up to, or Dawn either, gotta re-read.

I still like the attention to little details, like using the word "Canon," or the syphilis reference, all the way down to both Willow and Tara a sper the show being memebrers of the Slippers-or-Socks-Around-the-House Club. (admittedly all the women on the shows were, excpet for Glory, Faith and Cordelia)

And I'll have to drop "mice in my brain" into a conversation soemday!!

[pipsberg]

H,

Hey there cutie! First let me say this was a wonderful and suprising (well, I sort of knew you were going to post but you were sly about it) treat for a weary work traveler. I read it on the plane home and I must say I hope my neighbor wasn't reading over my shoulder because that was HOT. Amazing job as always with detail and realism, even in the dream. This particular dream encounter was very intimate and sexy and at one point I felt almost like an intruder into their little world. That's just a sign of great writing - you pulled me in so much that I felt almost guilty for reading! Awesome.

I really liked Buffy's exchange with Tara on the phone as well. The way Tara unintentionally revealed so much to Buffy and the surface way in which they talked about things just amplified all the issues that are hidden and made the story more deep and immediate. I really like the way you capture all the peripheral characters and the way they interact with Tara and Willow. It's true to the cannon characters, but it's much deeper even than the show allowed.

I, like Cam, also caught up with a good friend the same night you posted. What a funny coincidence! I must say that the two were equally fantastic (sorry Cam, you can't win against hot dream sex).

Once again, great job sweetie. I look forward to more as always.

[JustSkipIt]

Heather,
I was pretty surprised about this update. At first I thought people were just bumping it but no. What a pleasant surprise too.

Ok: the Willow part. To borrow from Buffy I will say "that Dream Tara is quite the machine isn't she?" She seems quite athletic and gifted in Willow's dreams (first the entire pubic hair-clit touching and now some strap-on, standing up, from behind business). That's kind of athletic. I find it awesome that Willow is so carnal in her lust for Tara. You know? LIke she's not like just starting to come out and thinking that she wants to hold hands with Tara over milkshakes or something. But I notice that in her dreams it's always her being made love to rather than the other way around. I wonder if part of that is that she knows that she "doesn't know what to do" (like that's ever really true) but she assumes that Tara is very experienced and will be able to fulfill her. I love the way as this story goes on Willow is more and more committed to staying in her dream world with Tara and their love and passion. Of course, she could try to bring that dream world into reality ...

Please pass along: "Dear Willow,
If you have problems getting out of bed because you hit the snooze try putting your clock across the room. That way you have to get up and walk to turn it off. If you like to hit the snooze, get two clocks. Set one for 8:00 and put it by your bed so you can hit snooze and set the other for your drop-dead get up time (9:00) across the room.

Hope my unsolicited advice helped.
Debra"

--

Tara's part. I loved the tie in of the loud thunk in Willow's dream. I spent Tara's update waiting for her to knock over an easel or drop her plate or something. Tara's internal musings were adorable and neurotic and seemed like she was getting somewhere with it. The conversation with Buffy was quite insightful and I love the way you tied it to the conversation with Dawn but also the harsh light of day aspect of it. Poor Buffy: so lonely and just wanting to talk to a friend. It sounds like Tara is starting to make some progress on her work which has got to be good considering how behind she is. Michelle is a cutie puting "bring Willow" on the invite. I almost wonder if when Morgan shows up she will work Tara for herself or play cupid (perhaps under Michelle's amused direction).

There was a part where Tara was trying so hard to think of what Willow's saying "my Xander" reminds her that really brough to mind Passage by Connie Willis. I don't know if you've read it but it's a facinating sci fi (I guess if I had to classify) it fic of life after death experiences. In it we have the humanist who is talking about trying to remember something on the edge of her brain and a scientist who keeps saying, "oh that sensation is due to this brain chemical..." Anyway, it reminded me of that.

Again I say, welcome back and thanks for posting.

[Yasbel]

Oh, sweet leaping Jesus!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the update. I actually did a triple take, thinking "Wait, it was called Neverland, right? Just Neverland? I'm not imagining it, am I?"
Thank God I have the daily habit of checking Through the Looking Glass!
And thank YOU for the chapter! It was great

Anyway, just wanted to say that I really, really love this story, and I hopefully wait for the next update!

[The Rose24]

I am surprised but happy to see an update on this.

How many days is it before Willow comes out? I have lost track.

[veiled isis]

Hello there

It's been aaaages since I've properly been here and had a good look around and what-do-you-know.....there's an update! I'm so very very happy right now <----- see, that's me all happy! I thought this fic was a gona, soooooo happy i was wrong. Amazing writing as always very descriptive, just the way i like em.

Michelle
xx

[WillowRulez]

I didnt dare getting my hopes up when I saw this thread up at the top once mre, just thought it was some more feeback for this marvelous story.
But yay! Caught the word 'update' 'and yay' in the replies and I jumped for joy. Literally. I am pathetic

"You could..." Tara replied, gently. "But, I don't think saying it here counts."

Very cool. It’s like they meet in their dreams, not just Willow dreaming of Tara and tell each other things and know certain things.

She turned in her seat and looked to the window across the way. Water ran down the surface in streams, shiny light pushed into the big room by a wall of gray.

and

She just sat and watched the fat rain drop and the odd car drive by. The streetlights framing her hilly side street lit the stormy world in yellow; a faint, pervasive glow that illuminated the shimmering buildings' reflections in the rippling puddles on the asphalt, casting the night's objects in a strange sepia tone. It took a long time, many moments spent staring at nothing and everything before the color seeped into her pupils and became the lens through which she saw the next step.

Beautiful descriptions.

"Nobody that mad at Brad Pitt truly counts, unless you're counting crazies or you're Jennifer Aniston."

Maybe you need to change that to Angelina now haha
Morgan... I dont think she is a 'threat' anymore... I hope she will nudge Tara into the right direction now that she knows what WT feel about each other.
More? Don’t leave us hanging please. As much as I don’t want this story to end I am desperate for a solution here.

[watty]

I got too engrossed in what was happening before logic took over and I was like "this is a dream"; then you upped the hotness up a notch and I threw logic out of the window and simply joined Willow in luxuriating in those sensations. It felt like I was there, with Willow with Tara, and um that sounded like a perv. What I mean is that your descriptions and writing were so vividly compelling, down to the feel of the wall and the sweat trickling down, that I couldn't help but be affect by it, just as Willow was feeling in the dream. Dream!Tara is just as cute as real Tara, to be expected here. I love how you incorporate dealing with the alarm and dealing with their undeclared feelings into the dream, as if it's completely natural to be talking about dreaming while they're, well, dreaming.

So while Willow was having erotic dreams about Tara, here is Tara being her usual overthinky self about Willow, painting, Willow, her conversation with Dawn, Willow, talking with Buffy and finally, Willow. She's right,

the whole silly situation was funny

So more talking scheduled with Buffy; and visits; and many many things waiting to happen. But still they're such a long way from resolution and coming to terms with their mutual feelings. All this even before we come to the part of the morning of Tara seeing Willow wake up from that dream and in a hurry. Very nice.
[br]

[gorn]

I had the luxury of discovering this fic and reading it in its entirety during the 8 months you were away, so this is actually my first time reading an "update." I often saw other people's comments that reading a Neverland update was like seeing very old friends again or slipping on a favourite old pair of jeans - everything is just as comfortable as you remember it. I think I know exactly what they meant now. I think I find it more jarring going back to the Real World when I'm done than I do when I'm settling into a new Neverland chapter. I was right there again with the sex dream & snooze button, Tara's deadlines (I don't think she's going to make it), Dawn's phonecall (got it in my avatar), Anya's shop, Willow's reaction to Good Vibrations, everything.

I never thought I would ever think of the snooze button as something sexy ...

The dream was great. Love the surreal touches like Tara hitting the snooze button. Can't put my finger on it, but I liked how the strap-on was lavender. The sex is getting more and more intense in these dreams, and other people have already commented on the visceral descriptions you used this time; I think something as simple as a dash of lavender mellows out the scene, makes it a bit more playfull. I guess it's what I would call an "unexpected visual" - something really subtle you weren't expecting, but turns out to be one of those images that just sticks with you.

I can't believe I just said a lavender strap-on was "subtle" ...

"A quiver in her right calf was the first indication of impending release ..." This was brilliant. Just brilliant. Your writing is so full of descriptions like this - short, tight, focussed, yet hit like a sledgehammer. There can't be a reader out there who wasn't suddenly remembering the best sex they ever had just from a line about Willow's calf ...

Tara waking up. God, I hate this feeling ... and I'm not sure I should really be praising you for nailing it so accurately.

The phone call with Buffy was my favourite part of this chapter (yes, even more than the strap-on sex dream). Throughout this series, phone calls are something you've done remarkably well. This is going to seem like a small thing, but I really, really, really like how the attention was always on Tara. Whenever you describe Buffy, it's always in relation to her VOICE. Put me right there hanging on the line with Tara. Loved it.

"Bring Willow!"
Don't that make ya want to stand up and cheer?


I loved this chapter a lot, and I was so happy to see you posting again! Welcome back! I hope it doesn't take 8 months for the next update, but I promise not to hold it against you if it does. It's kind of like going to a really nice restaurant - if the food and ambiance are good, sometimes you don't mind if the service is a little slow.

[histchic]

Heather, you came back!

Thanks so much for this update. I really enjoyed the aspect of Willow having a conversation with Dream Tara to figure out what to do about Real Tara. As far as Real Tara, I agree she needs to put Willow on the back burner for a bit(but she just doesn't stay there). I think Tara is on the verge of making the connection between "My Xander" and "My Brian", or at least I hope she is.

Can't wait to see where you take us next. Again, welcome back and thanks so much for the update.

[Boschi]

Didn't I *just* decide to have an angst-free day?

Loved this... have thought this to myself embarrassingly often.

So pleased to see you posting.

Regards,

Boschi

[Halo]

WHOA WHOA WHOA!!!
When I saw the update on Through the looking glass I had to reread this to be sure, well I nearly pinched myself! I thought it was hopeless, that I would never see the end of it... snif! but here you are, Easiersaid, thank you! Neverland is one of my favorite fics and I have to say that waiting was worth it!

[Emms]

Wow... that was a really great chapter! Good to see you back and posting again! Rock on!

xoxo
Emms

[WillowRTaraM1]

Holy. CRAP. There IS a god..

Im so glad I decided to check back in on this site! I KNEW you wouldnt leave us hangin heather!! I kept the faith!!

Ok.. Im going to read.. feedback to follow!!!!!!


.. Another brilliant update, per usual The dream was bitter sweet from the start because I knew it wasn't real! I loved Tara's musings and I'm so glad she started to question Willow's relationship with Xander. I have to admit though.. after such a long time I was really hoping this update would have some Willow/Tara interaction.. or maybe some confusion being cleared! Ah well I know it will happen eventually Cant wait for more! (Hoping more is... soon? )

Glad life is great for you Heather! Take care now

-Jackie

[RageMore7]

OMG!!! it has been so long! i can't stand this! plase dont make it so long between the updates! please please please let them be together, it's killing me!! i love the whole art and music and how important it is. art and music is very important to me as well. and horses, i love the horses too. ok i'm done babbling. thanks

sionan

[Willow~Rosenberg]

*gasp*

You're back!!!

*thud*

I think you broke me. Will return when I am more coherent to leave you adequate feedback. Good to see you back, Heather.

[PancakesinBellies]

*Does the happy-update-dance*

[SylverMaki]

I prayed to God for hours for an update to this. I'd been saying I need to check for an update. And when I looked and it was there I nearly fainted. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you times infinity plus infinity plus one.

I love you right now. You raised from me from the dead and I can live again. Please don't kill me anymore. Pretty please update soon. I beg you. I need some Willow and Tara real awake interaction to live on. Pretty please, and the conversation between Tara and Buffy that gives Tara some more things to ponder that are for Willow being in love with her.

Anything like that would be good. I read the update and the past two as well, I think I'll have to start over again so I can really remember because I have a terrible memory.

Hopefully by the time I reread the whole thing there will be another update. Plllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeeeee!!!

Thanks for this update. I completely love you right now.

[Guppy]

So this is what happens when I'm gone for 2 months? Perfect! I adored the update. I so badly want Willow and Tara to get together but I enjoy this torture too much. This story captivates me every time I read it. So if them getting together means the end of this story I choose more torture. I loved the dream complete with the thud and alarm. Tara's memorization of Willow's morning schedule. Buffy phone conversation. Tara's conversation with herself. The invite "bring Willow"! Ahh, what a fantastic update. thank you!

[singgirl]

Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! I can't believe it: an update. Funny, I noticed an update on another fic I feared was dead, "Comming Back," and I thought, "wow, all i need is for neverland to be updated, and I will be overcome with glee." I shrugged off the notion, but I shouldn't have been so doubtful. Thank you so much for comming back to this.

I really couldn't tell that it had been so long, as far as continuity of the writting. The flow was just as easy as it was 10 pages and over a year ago.

...plowing methodically for the next two and half hours straight as she plucked leaves from the updraft and ticked items off of her to-do list...

I liked how you took the windstorm of leaves metaphore and kept with it. I like metaphores, but I hate it when everything has a different one that ties in with none of the others. It's chaotic. When done properly (your fic is exibit A), it's a great catalyst for the imagination; to put something in other words makes the meaning even more easy to translate, as sometimes the written word fails to detail what simple inflections of the voice could easily have expressed.

All in all, awesomeness. I eagerly await the next part. Until then, I wait.

[edgeplay]

Big response.

Since I'm new, I hesitate to post, but I was wondering something.

I've seen words like athletic used to describe the sex here, but I think the word impossible is a better one. I've tried to work out the logistics, but it just doesn't work. I guess Tara can have sex around corners. Good for her.

I hope next update doesn't take as long. The story is interesting, but are they ever going to get together? It's very frustrating.

[LittleBit]

I fear the perpetual waitiing has begun .. this is the first time this fic has been updated since I began reading it .. yes I was late to be introduced to this fic but that was only because prior to this fic I had a strict rule about only reading finished fics .. but this fic is just too hard to resist ... it's story portrayal of how people interact and how confusing life is at times is just so spot on!

I beg that you update this fic soon Heather as I really want to see how Willow manages to stumble her way through "that" conversation with her mom and Buffy ... not too mention how interesting the conversation with Tara is going to be!

It would also be interesting to see how Morgan reacts on the Thursday "date" now that she has seen Tara and Willow interacting. Will she try and force the issue or back off .. it will be interesting to see how you develop this character further and this point of the story arc will certainly help solidify her overall character (at least from where I'm sitting -- but perhaps you'll throw a spanner in the works and leave me wondering all over again!).

Waiting and anticipating!

[taliesin]

I knew you'd be back! With so many people praying so fervently and all.

Another beautiful update. Now that I know what to expect, I love these dream-scenes, especially the way that you use them to explore the feelings and thoughts that the characters supress in their waking lives.

Also Tara's creative process is just fascinating. It seems to me that she is using colour the way that you are using words - no wonder it's so long between updates!
Your writing style reminds me of some of my favourite poetry - GM Hopkins, UA Fanthorpe - small descriptions that create so much atmosphere.

I too had a little trouble when I tried to visualise the sex scene bit, but then I realised that it doesn't matter - it's a dream, so Willow (and by extension us) just gets lost in the sensations - sequence of events has nothing to do with it. (Although since you have been so meticulous elsewhere, it probably does make sense, I 'm just not seeing it.)

Keep up the torture I'm quite sure that you can drag it out a bit longer!

(And if you post just a little bit more frequently, my ecstatic celebrations might not wake the neighbours quite so much - but don't feel pressured; it's well worth the wait.)