Home Improvement by Helga Von Nutwimple (PG-13)

[lyr]

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Spike/Tara
Length: 13845 words
Author on LJ: theohara
Author Website: just her LJ
Why this must be read: theohara has been silent a while now, and her journal is a collection of half a dozen languishing serials, all of which are simply gorgeous; I still recommend reading all of them, if you can resign yourself to the expectation that there may well never be endings for any of them. This is one of her few finished stories, and it's a fine example of why I miss her writing so much. She has an astonishing gift for taking canon and reinterpreting it in such a way that it feels utterly authentic yet still entirely different than you ever thought. This fic not only makes its otherwise improbable pairing seem perfectly natural and right, it re-writes Angel and Buffy canon for at least the last two seasons of each in a way that feels absolutely reasonable and deeply satisfying. Also, all the characters are beautifully written, and the dialogue---always one of theohara's greatest strengths---is gobsmackingly stunning.

Home Improvement

Comments

[damalur]

Thanks for this recommendation! I'm always on the lookout for good Spike/Tara fic.

[lyr]

Glad I could pass it along!

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec! It was an awesome fic :)

[lyr]

You're quite welcome; I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[fleshlycherry.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Tara/Spike.

[lyr]

You're most welcome! I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them myself.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Irecommended this story when it was first written, and it's still one of my favorites in any fandom. I miss Theohara's voice, and wish her well.

[lyr]

As do I. She was a fine writer, and I still return to her work with joy.