[ Author Notes ] [ Acknowledgements ] [ Titles ]

Author Notes

Q: So... why Lindsey? Isn't he, like, Evil Lawyer Slime?
A: Well, I'll tell you -- I fell rather desperately in love with him about halfway through the second act of 'Blind Date.' Watching him go back to Wolfram & Hart broke my heart, and we won't discuss what the end of 'To Shanshu in L.A.' did to me! In my not-very-humble-at-all opinion, Angel screwed up. Big time. As a result, he lost a potential ally who is now a very sincere enemy. And I'm not happy about it! (Although I am looking forward to seeing what they're going to do with him.)

Q: So... why Cordelia?
A: Hey, it's not just me. My friend and betareader Lizbet Trilled this one with me, thinking something along the lines of "Well, Cordelia's always wanted to date a lawyer...." We're pretty sure that if Lindsey could drag himself back to the straight and narrow, Cordy could kick his butt enough to keep it there, so I decided to give her the chance to try. (And, frankly, I'm having a lot more fun watching her do it then I did for the entire fourth season of Angel.)

Q: Um, where'd the whole 'Rising' subplot from the show go?
A: It's gone, gone far away. Well, a little far away. Kinda shoved in one corner. < eg > Seriously, I'm having enough trouble keeping Lindsey and Cordy in the same room -- and Angel from killing one or both of them -- that I wasn't planning to open myself up to being quite severely Jossed by the series as soon the second season starts. Which I promptly was. Still, plans changed. (Translation: Lindsey 'forgot' to talk to me until I acknowledged this entire thing was happening. Grrr. Damn lawyers, always having to cross every bloody 'T'....) Darla is locked up in the basement somewhere, being indoctrinated during the course of this arc.

Q: So... you're not even pretending this fits in the Angel universe as we know it, huh?
A: Nope, canon go bye-bye for the most part. < eg > This is my own little twisted take on what would have happened if Lindsey had made a different choice in that crypt. Everything up to the last act of 'To Shanshu' is still in force; everything after that is twisted by my fevered little brain, and that's the way I like it! The entire series is set between the events of "To Shanshu" and those of the Buffy episode "Family".

Q: Why so long between stories? You're not giving up, right?
A: No, no, no, I'm not ending this until it's done! But lack of inspiration combined with running several web sites (all of which are usually behind), working on other fics, and Real Life sometimes give this story arc a long dry spell (like, exactly a year, and I am so sorry). I promise, I'm not quitting -- it will all get written. I just can't guarantee when by.

Q: Can I archive Forgiven?
A: No. You're welcome to link to the main page, http://www.neon-hummingbird.com/forgiven, and there's a banner and buttons available if you're into that, but please do not link to any of the individual stories, or place any of them on your archive.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to:
  • Christina Kamnikar, who beta'd and encouraged and inserted appropriate insults, broke down transition walls, talked me through the first date and let me steal good lines, and whose portrayal of The Powers That Be lent so much to my universe's version.
  • Elizabeth Lewis, who helped me break the story arc detail by detail in the beginning and at several crucial points
  • Christine in NJ, for comments, enthusiasm, encouragement, and oh god, the biscotti!
  • Jeanine Matthews, for being the world's best native guide and loving this story almost as much as I do.
  • Dianne DeSha and Tina Gilman, who shared a hotel room with me and Lizbet as we were planning and didn't strangle either of us
  • Kelly Gritten, for beta-reading, not letting me get away with anything, and lots of encouragement (even after months! Woo and f--kin' hoo, indeed)
  • Mary Beth Neilsen, for commenting, harrassing and threatening
  • Alison Bodie, for unsolicited enthusiasm (the finest kind) and betareading
  • Adam Gilman, who sat in on a later planning session with remarkable patience
  • Britt Lee Devenport, world's greatest brother-in-law, and the authority on Bitter Guy Music
  • Everyone who has patiently waited for the next part (or not-so-patiently written to nag; that works, too)
  • Christian Kane, for making a bad guy look sooo good -- and making me believe Lindsey was worth redeeming.

    Titles

    Yes, I have, indeed, filched every title so far (except for the Prologue) from a song, For the most part, you can use the title list as a soundtrack for the arc (or just put on Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill'; it works).

  • Forgiven -- Alanis Morissette ('Jagged Little Pill')
  • It Had to Be You -- Harry Connnick, Jr. (When Harry Met Sally soundtrack)
  • What Part of No -- Lorrie Morgan ('Watch Me')
  • Uninvited -- Alanis Morisette (City of Angels soundtrack)
  • Call and Answer -- Barenaked Ladies ('Stunt')
  • Ain't Nobody's Business -- Billie Holiday (various compilations)
  • We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This -- George Strait ('One Step at a Time')
  • Papa Don't Preach -- Madonna ('True Blue')
  • Walking on a Wire -- Lowen & Navarro ('Walking on a Wire')
  • This Side of the Morning -- Del Amitri ('Waking Hours')
  • Something's Gotta Give -- Ella Fitzgerald (various compilations)
  • Pressure -- Billy Joel ('Nylon Curtain')
  • Falling in Love -- Lisa Loeb ('Firecracker')
  • Inconsolable -- Jonatha Brooke and the Story ('Plumb')
  • Drops of Jupiter -- Train ('Drops of Jupiter')
  • My Favorite Mistake -- Sheryl Crow ('The Globe Sessions')
  • Deep Water -- Jewel ('Spirit')
  • When Seconds Count -- Survivor ('When Seconds Count')
  • Running on Ice -- Billy Joel ('The Bridge')

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    Comments to perri@neon-hummingbird.com. Last updated December 12, 2003.