This is an absolutely marvelous series and your writing is simply superb. I've always had a weak spot for the Faith 'journey-style redemption' fic and this is, without a doubt, one of the best I've seen and is going straight onto my rec site.

I would love to see more in the series if you feel inspired again. For one thing you've alluded more than once to Xander's African travels and I'd love to see what you'll make of their meeting. :-)

Please consider this a very sincere plea for "More!!!"

LOVE. And now that I've just killed a few hours of my life reading this start to finish I think it's sequel time.

Thanks and glad you enjoyed it. ;)

Unfortunately, the sequel may be delayed a bit longer yet... ;(

Just reread your "Oh, the people she knows.." series again and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I first read it years ago. I'm sad to see that you haven't put out anything new in this series since 2008, but glad to see that you're still around since you have been responding to reviews. I must say that this is in my top three favorite Faith Stories along with DreamSmiths "Virtue of a Warrior." If you're still out there, there are still people who would love to read more of your work (especially a continuation of this series :)

Thanks much. And, up there with Dreamsmith's "Virtue"? Wow - high praise indeed: that's one of my favorite standalone AU faith stories.

I'm still out here, yeah. Just a bit under the "Real Life" hammer since 2009, which makes it kinda hard to write - no steady access to a computer of my own.

Glad you enjoyed this, and yes: I will pick up the Road series and Nightwatchmen at some point. Just not sure when I'll be able to, as of yet.

Just re-read through Life Is A Road.

One of the very few 10's I give out. WAY up there, if not at the top of my favorite Faith fanfics.

It's too damn bad it's apparently not going to be continued (last update of any story from this author 2008?).

Author has a refreshing mixed style of dialogue, history, memories, dreams, and of course real-time politics and events and makes good use of it. The banter, both internal and between characters, is often excellent.

Reading as Faith matures and carves out her own path in life is not only fun, but seems real...in an imaginary world.

Thanks for the 10. And for the review - I always appreciate reviews.

Umm... let's say "On extended hiatus", rather than abandoned. I fully plan to pick up all of my stories when I can. I'm just not real sure when "when I can" will be at the moment.

Right now, I don't have full time access to a working computer of my own, and my living and work situation is iffy at best. Real Life makes it a royal bitch to continue to write, sometimes. ;) Still, that'll change eventually, and I'll be able to rectify the situation and get back to all this - assuming there's still a Buffy fandom by that time to bother writing for...

"He turned me down, very gently and charming. Then he bought me dinner, listened to my kinda wild sob story, dropped me off and bought me a bus ticket to California." Pause... "I found out later that he slipped a hundred dollar bill in my pack when I wasn't looking, and a note that said 'I hope you find what you need. Don't pick up strange men any more - it's dangerous.'"

Love that backstory

Thanks for the review. ;)

This is for the series as a whole, i really enjoyed reading this fic, you did an awesome job. The people stand out in harsh light in some parts and then in others seems to be so caring and selfless. I like how you had Faith come into her own in discoveries and understanding of the powers she gained as she matured in the role as the Slayer.

Along the way a common "five-oh" who was just doing the right thing ended up making a huge difference in his job. And in the lives of those around him.
I like the fact that you had the people Faith helped in the past come together and clean up another city for the betterment of the people there.

Once again excellent job, I look forward to reading more of your stories.

Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. ;)

Wow that was a good story

Thanks :)

No, thank you! ;)

A fantastic series! I can't really add much detail, since I see how well the high points were covered by previous reviewers, but this was some great writing and I hope those sequels appear someday. Thanks! :)

Thank you.

You're a hell of a writer. The characters are just different and evolved enough from cannon to interest me. The plotline and dialogue rock. Some of your ideas seem very original and awesome, like having Faith and Kendra meet. I've always thought that would be interesting. I just wish things would smooth out between your Faith and Buffy. Please tell me the next one involves exactly that happening? I've always thought things would be much better if those two could get along. But also, I kind of want to know what Buffy's reaction will be to finding out Faith is now the stronger Slayer. On another note, I can't wait to see what's going to happen with Faith's "sister". And with the whole mind-dream thing, because it's pretty obvious there's going to be a third occupant other than Echo and Elora soon. And I can't wait to find out what's the what with the PtB and who'll fill their messenger void. Also, does the absorbing of Elora mean Faith has picked up any of her abilities other than just her strength? Can't wait to see what happens! Hopefully soon?

I have many, many plans for this series, but unfortunately, I'm not in a position to write and post right now. Sorry, but I *will* get back to this as soon as I can.

As for Faith and Buffy... I'm just not seeing a reconciliation between them happen in the long term. Too much bad blood, and (IMO), Buffy's too judgemental. But, hey - my mind could change as the stories write themselves for me, so ya never know.

I have plans for the PtB, the messenger, balance demons, and Cordelia and Xander in this series. Don't fret.

And thank you very much for the review. It's nice to log in after such a long absence and see reviews like this waiting for me.

Very much enjoyed both this and your Nightwatchmen stories. I'm really hoping you pick back up on these soon. It's so difficult to find fanfic that is both well-written and with such an enjoyable storyline, and yet you've hit two home runs with both of the series. Even if you never continue I'll still say thank you for the stories, but please make my day and let me find a new update soon.

Please see my reply to the reviewer above - I have plans to continue, but I'm in no position to do so right now. I'm very sorry.

I am glad you enjoyed these, and please, keep checking. When I *can* write and post more, I *will* do so. Thank you for the reviews.

Another nice chapter; one question I have though. Is O'Brien your character or is he from Supernatural? Also, I like his relationship with Faith, the way you've slowly developed it. The adopted daughter conversation was nice, as was the beginning banter about Faith's eating.

No, O'Brien and the rest of the mid-south cops are from a late 80's/early 90's show called "Night Heat".

Very well done, I enjoyed Faith's talk with Riley; it's nice to know their past is water under the bridge. I also enjoyed her letting all know that she has no watcher beyond Wesley and Dawn, who is really all she needs. Like she says, pretty ironic that she has cop friends now lol

Yeah... I've never seen Riley as being as big a bastard as a lot of fanon likes to make him out to be. And in addition to having his own dark phase, he is a psyche major - I suspect that given time to reflect on things, he'd be able to figure out just how screwed up Faith was during all that and move past it.

I LOVED the last scene between Faith and Giles...which oddly enough is exactly what we were discussing earlier. Lol. It was long past due for Faith to question him, and your description of his reasoning for being so neglectful and even abusive in a way makes sense. Where did the person whose story sparked your idea post his work, I would love to read it.

The story that sparked that was linked in the Author's Note. More of NWHepcat's stuff is posted here:

http://www.echonyc.com/~stax/Buffy/nwhepcat/index.htm

and here: http://nwhepcat.livejournal.com/

Personally, I think that she, along with Liz Marcs and Aadler are among the cream of the crop of Buffy-fic authors, and Hepcat's the best Faith/Xander writer around.

Yeah, guess it would be really hard for Faith after such an intense experience...she and Abby have a great relationship, they are a nice balance for each other. Can' wait to read more.

*nod* When I was first watching Blade Trinity, it occurred to me that the two of them would just *click*. Complementary personalities, outlooks, and experiences.

This is simply amazing, my favorite chapter by you yet. To see Faith struggle so hard with what she was and all the pain that went with it while maintaining who she has become was simply amazng...and I always enjoy both flashbacks and emotional descriptions. very well done.

Thanks. ;)