Very nicely done. I'm fairly new to the Anita Blake series, but I've read enough of both it and fan fiction to truly enjoy this story. It was brilliantly done. The perfect mixture of the two verses. I also love the "Merging" that you mentioned and how well you handled that. I like that Buffy was so broken but healing without even realizing the latter, too. Another nice touch was the way the pairings worked out. The fact that everyone was reasonably content or happy at the end and that things really had the chance to work out for the best.

Thank you for writing this. I enjoyed it greatly.

Zari

Thank you! It was a very wonderful story.

I'm just re-reading this story and ran into some confusion. Anita remarks about Caleb touching the vampire marks on Buffy's neck that she sometimes absentmindedly rubs...but at the beginning of this story, you mentioned that all of Buffy's scars had been left in the grave, including Angel's bite mark? What vampire mark does Anita see? :)

Eeep, better late than never, huh?

If you want the PR version: Spike's marks, given to her after her resurrection. If you want the truth, I wrote the first couple of chapters, stopped working on the story for almost a year and then got back to it. I simply forgot about the no-scars bit. But don't tell! :)

Very good story.

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The fox knows many things, but
the hedgehog knows one big thing.
- Archilochus
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Marvelous!

Thank you for this story, and the enjoyment I had reading it.

Truly wonderful chapter!

Well done!

*claps heartily until his palms sting*

Yes, I'm satisfied!

*sits back, looks content for a few seconds*

Huh, I do satisfied as well as you do content! ;p

Wow!

Buffy's sppech/tirade to the SHA was just... stirring.

And see last review for comments on your so-called innocent looks.

Good chapter!!

"*whistles innocently* Who, me?"

Ha! You couldn't carry an innocent look in a bucket, girl!! lol

And you do the stereotypical small town sheriff very well. Sure you've never been to the South?

"Can you guess the worst case scenario?"

Sure, but since I'm a psychotic, I won't even hint at the shuddery details. ;)

And how dare you say this chapter doesn't have plot!?

Verrrrrrrry good chapter!

You handle the changing points of view so well, really making it flow seamlessly.

And I loved the leopards showing Buffy their 'special'. Very touching.

"...a lot of the time she was the only thing standing between herself and her happiness."

Trues words were never spoken. Very Zen of you.

Good chapter, as always. I'll have to pass on the contest, for obvious reasons.
;)

Ah, Micah should have let Buffy threaten to bite the guy's balls off.

You're no fun! hehehehehehe

Fantastic chapter!

And, OMG, you're a Brit, right? Only Brits use 'knackered'.

I lived in UK a year when I was 15, *mumble mumble* years ago. On an RAF base, too, while my dad was doing exchange service (he was USAF, a fighter pilot).

I'm German. I pick whatever words I like best from both British and American. Although the British tends to win, since it's closer and I've actually been there.

And thank you for reviewing.

Well, that was... intense.

Methinks Anita is going to need a new coffee table, soon.

How is Anita getting her head screwed on straight a 'simple thing'?

Good chapter, can't wait for the next!

Oh, right... it's only three clicks away.