Awesome story. I loved it. I usually like a bit of action in my stories but maybe I will find that in the next one :) I don't know who the person was who arrived at the end but I can think of a couple of possibilities. It might be Glory, trying to save her Hell dimension home, it might be Joy, Buffy's daughter come back from the future with !science to save the world, or it might be Tara from the old world who managed to survive the bomb somehow. I look forward to you proving me wrong :)

Y'know, I hadn't really thought of two of those three options, although one of them seems like it would be a really cool way to extend the story even further.

Thanks for your readership, support, and reviews throughout the posting of the story. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Good story, but for the cliffhanger ending! I know you have to set up your sequel, so I don't hold it against you...much. :-)
Look forward to the next story.

I'm about two chapters into the sequel, so hopefully you won't have to wait _too_ long to find out what happened and why. Do remember to check out the Firefly musical episode as well.

Thanks for your readership, support, and reviews.

Not what I expected - but that is good! You surprised me and came up with a result that made more sense than anything I could think of. Of course a world without magic could not be unmade by magic! I'm glad that all of Xander's friends are still his friends and they are able to help him come to terms with the world as it is, and that they have all realised they should appreciate what they have, in the real world.

I'm glad you enjoyed the climactic chapter. I felt I'd kind of written myself into a corner, so I was pleased when I came up with the solution I did. As for the rest -- I know that they all appreciated their lives, but it was having to convince Xander that he did a good thing that I wasn't expecting to write. I always enjoy when something unexpected happens as I write.

Thanks for your continued support (and reviews).

*sigh* still no rating higher than 10... This chapter made me both grin 'til my face hurt and leak tears. Well done.

I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and that this chapter worked for you.

Thanks for your continued readership and reviews.

Okay, since I figured this to be one of two ways that this would end, I'm pleased that everyone is satisfied with their lives (mostly), and I'm left wondering what the conclusion and epilogue are going to show us.

Buffy's reaction as a parent and her primary concern being for her child is exactly what I would expect, and completely in-character for both aspects of her.

This is very well-written and I thank you for sharing it with us.

I'm glad you've enjoyed the story. As with most of my stories, everything after the climax exists pretty much to tie up loose ends, set up sequels (if there will be any -- in this case, there will), and answer any remaining questions readers might have.

Thanks for your readership and reviews.

I guess Xander doesn't remember enough to realise what a bad idea it is to summon D'Hoffren. I'm surprised Faith or some of the other girls didn't try to stop him too though, after all they are all dead in the dream reality.
I found it quite funny that Buffy was mad at Faith, even after all that time. I'm glad she was a little nicer at dinner.

I think Xander is conflicted between realizing what he did and believing he needs to find a way to make it right. And... I think Buffy was more surprised than anything, and then Faith started needling her because, well, she's FAITH, and that could piss anyone off.

Thanks for your continued support (and reviews).

It is interesting to see the different ways people react to their dreams. Buffy is grounded by her child and seems ok with it, which is kinda surprising. Willow is very disturbed by the thought of Tara dying and that is totally in character. Satsu is very sad that she can't be with Buffy (and Buffy kinda feels the same way but probably won't admit it) Kennedy was dealing with it mostly alone so she was just about going insane and Faith just doesn't care one way or the other, which is kinda funny actually. But Kennedy's powers coming back? That isn't so funny :(

I'm not sure if you're a parent or not, but once you are (as I am), you realize that it doesn't matter what else happens so long as you have your child and that child is happy and healthy. I took Buffy's reaction almost directly from what I would feel in that situation.

Thanks for your continued readership and review-age.

Good

Is Giles a fighter pilot, a grocer, or none of the above in this reality?

Thanks; I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Giles does show up before the end of the story, so your question will be answered.

Just started reading and really enjoying this story. Nice work here AU'ing things and it will certainly be interesting when Faith meets the rest.

Well, Faith does tend to make things interesting. She can be a very abrasive character, which leads to conflict, which usually leads to good dramatic tension.

Thanks for reading and thanks for reviewing.

I hope they eventually discover what Xan has done for all of them. Their world sounds so mch better.

The problem with commenting on reviews is that sometimes I can't comment without giving away spoilery info. So...

Thanks for reading, and thanks for reviewing.

Good thing Chris is so helpful or Vi might be missing out on the ex-slayer gathering. It is funny thinking of her as a martial artist but not Buffy. Either way though they all need to hear Xander's news, bad as it is.
They probably don't all need to know what most of Buffy's dreams are about, although I hope she at least tells Satsu so she can find out if she is dreaming the same thing. Could be awkward if she isn't though ...

Well, think of it this way: before becoming a slayer, Buffy was a vapid cheerleader-type. Had there been no calling, she would've continued on that path and it would've taken her a lot longer to become the person we knew her as in the last three seasons of the show. And yes, they'll all hear Xander's news. Eventually.

Thanks for your continued support and reviews.

I'm sorry, but there's just no tension here. No reason for me to care what happens. Good effort, but I won't be reading more.

Sorry you feel that way. Thanks for trying the story out.

I did intentionally write this one as much more of a slow romance-style piece, and I agree there's not a whole lot of tension in it. Don't worry; there's enough tension in my other stories to make up for it (at least, I think).

So now Xander and Buffy are dreaming about the same thing (with Buffy's dream being more graphic of course) and Willow is officially freaking out. If Dawn is in the next chapter then maybe we will find out if she is dreaming about anything?

Maybe we will. Maybe we won't. Maybe she's... RED HERRING! (http://scoobydoo.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Herring)

(I couldn't resist.)

Thanks for your continued support (and reviews).

Well now we know that the dreams are definitely very very bad :( And you somehow managed to skip the bit where Xander told Willow what his dreams were about! That better be in the next chapter!
And I hope Buffy can maintain her grip on reality long enough to enjoy her time with Chris :)

Well, you'll see some of it. But for the whole thing, that's a few chapters down the road. Besides, there's only 20 chapters, so you'll only have to wait (counting on fingers) a maximum of five weeks to find out all the answers. And, as for the other thing, don't worry -- there's plenty of enjoyment still to come.

Thanks for your continued support (and reviews).

I forgot that there would be at least another couple of hundred girls out there that used to be Slayers. Perhaps a lot more than that if you count the ones the First managed to kill off. Maybe Buffy should do a TV spot promoting sleeping pills or something :) I guess more of the girls would recognise her than anyone else. Assuming they would recognise anyone at all of course.
I wonder if Buffy's dreams are detailed enough to test by seeing if real Satsu has the same birthmarks as dream Satsu? Could be an embarrassing question to ask though.
And next chapter we will find out how much Xander remembers right?

I thought it was like 1200 total slayers? I don't remember how many they said in the comics. But that will be addressed. Plus, there's a big moment coming at some point in the next nine chapters (I don't remember exactly which) that explains why Buffy, Satsu, Kennedy, and to a lesser extent Faith are the main ones to be affected.

And yes -- there's a big Xander moment coming in the next chapter.

Thanks for your continued support (and reviews).