“For the last time, I don’t need your help!”
“Who said I was helpin’, luv? I’m just out havin’ myself a lovely stroll.”
Buffy rolled her eyes and pushed her way past the annoying vampire who’d been trailing her patrol all night. Of course, he’d fallen into step beside her with no intentions of leaving her just yet. She just wanted some peace and quiet, not the company of an irritating vamp to give his two cents every five seconds on every little thing she did. She’d staked three vamps and almost got killed when Spike started clapping at a particularly intense moment. He was getting in the way and even though she secretly enjoyed his company most nights, tonight was not of the good. She was still feeling sorry for herself after Riley left her, the whole Glory business was stressing her out, she missed her mom, and Spike didn’t seem to give two shits about her distress. Of course, she never let on that she was upset and instead continued the sarcastic banter they were so used to. Which might be why he was sticking around. It was no mystery that Spike got off on their little arguments and tonight was no different. Was it his fault that she was feeling like a turd sandwich? No, but Buffy wished he’d use that damn infuriating intuition of his to take a hint and figure out that she was not in the mood. It was bad enough that Willow and Tara forced themselves upon her this night as well, but at least she was able to convince them to split up and take the north entrance to the cemetery…so she could have some time alone with her miserable thoughts. That’s when he showed up.
“Spike…when have you ever ‘strolled’? Aren’t you more of a ‘saunter’ or a ‘swagger’ kind of vamp?”
“You know me so well, pet,” he said with a cheeky grin and lit a cigarette.
“Well…then why don’t you just ‘swagger’ yourself on along and leave me alone.”
Spike clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Isn’t wise to be so mean to a big Bad, luv.”
“Oh, you’re so ‘Big’ and ‘Bad’,” she said mockingly.
“I could never get tired of hearin’ you say that, luv. Course,” he said with a leer, “it’d be much more entertainin’ if you said it while you were naked.”
“God, Spike!” she whirled around to face him. “Do you think of anything else besides sex?”
Spike scratched his chin methodically. “Well…yeah. But it usually ends up ‘round that bend at some point. ‘Specially when you’re as good as I am, or so they tell me.”
“You’re so full of yourself.”
“An’ wouldn’t you like to be full of me, too?”
“Spike!”
“Buffy!”
She let out a frustrated growl and stomped ahead, ignoring him. Of course he was following her.
“Not that I give a toss, but you seem a bit pissed about somethin’. You alright?”
“Gosh, Spike…what was your big clue? And no, for your information, though it’s none of your business, I’m not alright.”
“Care to tell me about it?” He tried to sound sincere but her red-stained cheeks and sparkling eyes were too hard to resist and she only looked that way when she was right pissed about something. God, she was beautiful.
Buffy sighed and twirled a stake in her hands. “Like you’d listen!”
“Oi! I’m a right good listener! Put up with Dru’s nonsense for over a hundred years, didn’t I? I didn’t know what she was on about most times but at least I remembered the voices’ names!”
“Fine. I’m exhausted! I miss my mom, I’m worried about Dawn, I’m fucking useless when it comes to men, I haven’t even enjoyed killing anything in weeks, I feel completely alone and no one fucking gets it!”
Spike stared at her with an open mouth. Well, he wasn’t expecting that much information let alone the usage of the ‘f-word’ more than once in a sentence.
“What do you mean you’re useless when it comes to men?”
“I just spill my guts out and that’s what you remember?”
“It’s what stuck out the most,” he shrugged.
“You know what…forget it. I should have known that you’ll never be anything more than a thorn in my side. Stupid Buffy! God, to think that for two seconds I almost believed you were a decent person!” She stalked off and he stalled for a moment in bewilderment. Then he was pissed.
“Don’t take this out on me, kitten. It’s not my fault you’re all backed up like a toilet! I was tryin’ to help!”
“AND I SAID I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP!”
~*~*~
“Goddess, they’re so angry!”
“I know,” Willow said as she munched on a bag of potato chips. Tara and Willow had been following the blonde pair for almost a half an hour, treating it like a matinee. They were so entertaining. “She’s so mean to him!”
“And he’s so…”
“Horny?”
Tara giggled. “Well, that’s one way of saying it. I think he likes getting her all riled up.”
“It’s kinda sad, really,” the redhead said thoughtfully. “They’re both…you know, jaded. I mean, Buffy’s had a lot to deal with…more than most people. She’s so closed off from everything and I think she just uses Spike as a punching bag. And, well…it’s no real mystery that Spike’s had a rough time himself. Doesn’t he seem like…just a big teddy bear sometimes?”
Tara giggled. “I hope for your sake he never hears you say that. I do get what you mean though. They are more alike than either is willing to admit. And…I think Spike is harboring some pretty serious attachments to her.”
“What?” Willow’s eyes flew wide.
“Come on, baby. It’s so obvious! He follows her around like a lap dog, he’s always trying to get under her skin, he’s…helping her kill vampires! A-and I see him staring at her all the time.”
“You think that Spike has a…a-a crush on Buffy?”
“I think it’s more than that. And I think Miss Buffy has one, too.”
Willow looked over at Spike and Buffy who were currently inches apart from one another, screaming at the top of their lungs.
“Quit smelling me! It’s…weird and gross!”
“Can’t help it if I know you want me!”
“I hate you!”
“Hate is a strong emotion, luv. It’s better than indifference.”
“Go find a hole and fix your…thing and leave me alone, you sniffer!”
“Make me!”
“Ugh! I HATE YOU!”
“Why are you blushing?”
“Because I’m…mad!”
“No…you’re blushing because you want my hot little body!”
“Oh man,” Willow whispered, “she’s got it bad.”
“See? Just looking at their auras you can tell. It’s a shame though. Both of them are too messed up to have anything resembling a healthy relationship. And it’s too bad because…well, if neither of them had the pasts that they’ve had…well, who knows. I think they’re made for each other.”
“That’s just because you’re my little hopeless romantic,” Willow cooed and nudged her girlfriend in the arm.
“And that’s why you love me.”
“Don’t you know it,” she winked. Willow’s expression turned serious when a thought came to her mind. “What if…what if we could give them back their innocence?”
“W-what do you mean? I don’t think you should use magic, Willow.”
“Oh, don’t be such a poop! It’ll be temporary. It’s the perfect spell!”
“I have nothing to do with this!”
“I’ll take all the credit, my dear. Trust me on this one.”
Tara sighed nervously, knowing that when Willow gave her the resolve face, there was no convincing her otherwise. The red head began chanting and held a crystal in her palm. As the spell continued, the crystal flashed with bright green light and fizzled. “Innocentia!” Willow and Tara looked at each other and then to the arguing blondes…only…they were gone.
“Uh oh…”
~*~*~
Buffy blinked her eyes open to adjust to her surroundings. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but she must have. Stretching her arms high above her head, she inhaled deeply, smelling the sweet aroma of clover and grass. She was in a meadow of some sort, complete with the dotting of evergreen trees and a stream that cut through the forest that surrounded the clearing. She stood up and walked over to the stream to splash her face. The moon’s reflection rippled in the water as she dipped her hands in and felt a sudden chill take over her body.
“It’s cold tonight,” she noted aloud and ran her hands down her bare stomach. She wondered if she could find something to cover her naked body with, but she had no idea what that would be so she remained content with her situation.
Buffy wondered how she wound up in this beautiful place but she wasn’t going to complain. She set out to go exploring, not really knowing where she should be. It was a strange feeling to know that you were lost but to also have no idea where you were supposed to be. She shrugged her shoulders at the thought and decided to follow the stream. She skipped along its path, bouncing from rock to rock and humming to herself. She leapt from one rock back to the grass and twirled around and around until she made herself dizzy, collapsing on the ground in a fit of giggles.
“Hello there!” Buffy looked up at a naked figure standing above her. Perhaps he was like her kind, but she didn’t even know what her kind was. He had skin like hers…and eyes and a mouth, a nose, ears, arms and legs…but parts of him were very different. His sparkling blue eyes were kind and not off-putting so when he greeted her, she smiled brightly up at him and waved.
“And hello to you too!” She fanned her arms against the grass and sighed. “Don’t you just love the grass?”
“I…I don’t know if I do,” he said thoughtfully.
“Well then, you should lie down next to me. It feels wonderful against your skin!”
“All right then,” he said smiling and knelt down next to her, lying down as she did. He wiggled his toes and nuzzled his back against the cool grass. “This is marvelous!”
“I know!”
They stayed there for a few moments looking up at the stars when Buffy broke the silence. “Do you have a name?”
“Yes I do!” he said enthusiastically. “My name is William. Are you named William?”
Buffy giggled and the sound filled William with so much delight. “No, silly! My name is Buffy.”
“Buffy…” he said like a prayer. “That’s a beautiful name.”
“Why thank you, William. Do you…do you know where we are?” she asked as she rolled onto her side to face him.
“I was hoping you could tell me,” he said sadly. “I woke up here and…for the life of me I cannot remember where I’m supposed to be, though I dare say I know this place isn’t right.”
“You talk funny,” she giggled.
“I do?”
“Yes. You speak as if your head is going to explode!”
“What?” he laughed. “That’s ridiculous!”
“See? Ridiculous!” she mocked. “But I like it, William.”
“Thank you, Buffy.”
“So, you’re suffering the same plight that I am, I guess,” she whispered. “It’s ok. I like it here.”
“Me too,” he nodded. “We should go walking around and get to know the place. What do you think?”
“That’s a splendid idea, William! I bet you’re full of wonderful ideas!”
William blushed and ducked his head shyly, “Oh, stop…you’re just saying that.”
“I don’t just say things, William. I mean them!”
“In that case, thank you. Shall we?” he asked, standing up and offering his hand to her. Buffy grinned and took the proffered hand, allowing him to help her to stand.
They walked side by side for a while, taking in the scenery with reverent smiles. Buffy looked at William through the corner of her eye. He was so strange. He was much taller than she was and his features were clearly more defined. Where she was soft and rounded in areas, William was sharp and angular. Though his lips were very soft looking and his nose was in desperate need of a good pinching. And so, that’s precisely what she did.
“Buffy!”
“I’m sorry, but your nose is absolutely adorable. I just had to pinch it!”
He grinned and turned to face her. “Your nose is quite adorable as well, Buffy.”
“It is?” she asked, scrunching her nose and touching it with her fingers.
William chuckled. “Especially when you make your face squish like you are now. Simply adorable.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes playfully. She was about to turn to continue their walk when she noticed William staring at her with his head cocked to the side and his lower lip jutting out as if in thought. “What is it, William?”
“It’s…it’s nothing,” he dismissed.
“No…something is wrong. Tell me!”
“I just wonder…if we are not the same…creatures?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement and she clapped her hands together. “I thought the same thing, William! Are you a woman like me?”
“No, I am a man. You’re a woman?”
“Yes…that is, I think I am.”
He eyed her up and down, and then looked down at himself. “You’re very soft looking.”
“Oh, but I am soft! Here, feel!” she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly, giggling. “That tickles!”
“Your skin is very smooth,” he agreed and continued touching her stomach with the tips of his fingers, finding joy in the sounds she was creating.
“May I touch you, William?”
He grinned and nodded and she ran her hands from his chest down his abdomen. “Your skin is very taut, though it is soft, too!” His eyes fluttered from the contact, not knowing the strange feeling that surged deep within him. It was not unpleasant. Buffy pulled away and clasped her hands behind her back, looking up at William.
“Buffy…what are those?” he asked, pointing to her breasts. She eyed them carefully and shrugged. “I don’t know what they are called but they too are very soft.”
“Why do I not have them,” he wondered, blatantly staring at them if for no other reason than to try and figure out what purpose they served. Buffy just shrugged.
“Would you like to touch them?”
“Yes, very much so,” he said enthusiastically. He was quite curious and glad she offered. With both hands he cupped them gently, raising them up a bit. His thumbs accidentally grazed her nipples and she gasped. He pulled away instantly, afraid he’d hurt her. “I’m sorry!”
A blush crept up her neck onto her face. Buffy looked down at her breasts and then jerked her head up to meet William’s eyes. “What did you do to them?”
He shook his head in fear, “I don’t know! I just…I just touched them like you told me to do!”
“Then…why are they pointy now?” The pair eyed Buffy’s breasts thoroughly, and wondered why her nipples were now erect. How very strange it all was!
“Did…did I do that?”
“I think you did!”
“Does it hurt?”
“No,” she said sheepishly, “it felt nice when you touched them. I’ve just never felt that before! How odd!”
“Would you like me to do it again?”
She nodded, biting her lower lip. This time William touched her directly on the nipples, rolling them under his fingers and smiled when Buffy began to breathe sharply, her eyes glazed over and she seemed to be enjoying it. “Does that feel good, Buffy?”
“Y-yes, it does, William! Are you a magician?”
He laughed even though his ministrations never ceased. “I am not a magician. Is it strange that it feels good to me, too?”
“It does?” she cocked her head and then gasped when he pinched them lightly.
“Yes it does. I feel tingly!”
“Me too, William.”
“Perhaps it is this place that is making us feel this way?”
She nodded and whimpered when he pulled his hands away from her breasts. It felt magnificent what he was doing and she wished he hadn’t stopped. “Maybe…though, something about what you were doing felt…natural? As if it were meant to happen!”
“I think I know what it is you’re saying, Buffy. Should I continue?”
“Only if you would like to, William.”
“Will you allow me to kiss them?”
“Kiss them?”
“Yes. They’re so cute I just want to give them a great big kiss!”
“Do you think I’m cute, William?”
He blinked and looked at her. “No. I think you’re beautiful. Perhaps the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re sweet.”
“It’s true. I would like to kiss you as well!”
“I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“Neither have I, but I think I might know how.”
“Then show me!”
He leaned forward and kissed her chastely on the lips, pulling away with a grin. “There you are!”
“Oh, please do it again! I like your lips. They are very soft and inviting.”
He obliged, lingering a bit longer this time. Buffy moved closer to him and their bodies touched. The sensations made both of them pull away with a gasp and they stared at one another, breathing heavily.
“Buffy…did you feel that?”
“Yes, William…it was like something was pulling me towards you and I was helpless against it and then I felt warm and light headed and now I feel strange down below.”
“What do you mean, down below?” he asked, unable to take his eyes off of her.
“Well…when you kissed me, I felt a strange thing happening between my legs. I’m embarrassed to tell you, William.”
“Perhaps if you told me, we could figure it out together?”
“Well…it feels wet.”
He blinked rapidly and shook his head. “What feels wet, Buffy? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either!” she stomped her foot in frustration. “Why isn’t your body reacting the way mine is? I feel…weak somehow…like I might faint!”
“If you were to faint, Buffy…I would catch you.”
She smiled sweetly and swooned. “You’re a wonderful…man, William. And too kind.”
“I feel as though I should be your protector. From now on, I will let no harm come to you!” He puffed out his chest proudly, standing tall. “All who defy me beware!” He roared loudly and the sound echoed through the trees.
“You’re so brave, William,” she giggled, finding this side of him to be incredibly charming. “How lucky I am to have found you!” She kissed him on the lips again and tried to pull away only to have William wrap a strong arm around her waist and keep her close.
“I should like you to do that again, Buffy.” He didn’t wait for her reply, crashing his lips against hers and they both moaned. The gesture allowed their tongues to touch and it felt so wonderful that they continued to taste each other with their tongues, panting and moaning into their mouths. William had a wonderful idea that he would like to touch Buffy’s breasts again. If it felt this good to kiss her, perhaps kissing while touching her on her soft parts would feel simply fantastic! With his free hand, he cupped her breast and squeezed it gently, rolling her hardened nipple beneath the pad of his thumb. Buffy threw her head back and moaned loudly.
“William!”
“Do you like that?” he asked and his husky tone took both of them by surprise.
She nodded dumbly and bit her lip, looking into his eyes. “I can’t…catch my breath…”
William was horribly concerned for her. “Are you unwell?”
“No, William…I feel wonderful! Please keep doing that!”
Instead, he crouched slightly and kissed her nipple, rolling it with his tongue once. When she gasped, he continued and pinched the other breast with his fingers. He couldn’t get enough of her! She was marvelous, this Buffy woman. He had a sudden urge to taste and touch every part of her and he wondered if she’d let him. “Buffy,” he whispered against a nipple, “I don’t understand why, but I cannot seem to stop myself from touching or kissing you. What have you done to me?”
“I don’t…I don’t know, William! But I don’t want you to stop either.” The wetness she referred to earlier was in full force now and if she squeezed her legs together very tight, it seemed to feel a bit better. She wondered…
“William,” she patted him on the head and he looked up at her with a goofy grin.
“Yes, Buffy?”
“Would you…touch me down below?”
He jerked his head up and stood straight. “You mean…between your legs?”
“Yes. If you don’t want to, I understand. I am very wet.”
“I would like to, yes.”
His hand gently caressed her mound before moving lower between her thighs and his eyes flew open when he made contact with her folds. “Goodness, Buffy…you weren’t joking!”
”Oh…” was all she could say. He was rubbing a rather sensitive spot with the tip of his finger as if he knew instinctively that by circling it slowly and rubbing the wetness around it would bring her pleasure. And that, it most certainly did.
William was fascinated by her body. He’d found a tightened nub of flesh and when he touched it, she shuddered and let out a breathy moan that stirred something within him. He watched her with heavy lidded eyes, stroking her softly and he wanted to kiss her again. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. Buffy clutched his shoulders in an iron grip and almost fell over when he pushed her away suddenly. He had turned around and walked away, stopping with his head hanging low and tension all about his muscles.
“William?”
“Just…go away! I…something is wrong with me! I don’t want you to see it!”
She took a tentative step towards him and spoke softly to him. “What happened?”
He looked at her over his shoulder and quickly turned away from her. “I don’t know!” he all but yelled.
Buffy jumped slightly at the tone of his voice and frowned. “But, William…I told you about what was happening to me, why can’t you tell me?”
“Because…because I don’t want to frighten you. Parts of me are growing!”
“Gr-growing?” she asked nervously.
He whirled around to face her and she covered her mouth, gasping. “See? I knew you’d be afraid!”
“But…it’s so much bigger now…than it was before!”
“I know! And I don’t know why,” he said, tears prickling the backs of his eyes.
Buffy couldn’t help but stare at his erection. It pulsed with life, veins wrapping around it, and its bell-shaped head thumped against his stomach. “Per-perhaps you should lie down, William. Let me have a look.”
He nodded, feeling solemn, and lay down on his back, throwing an arm over his eyes. How embarrassing! Buffy knelt beside him and tapped her lips with her fingers, wondering what the best way to go about this would be. She ran her fingers up the length of it and jerked away when William took in a sharp intake of breath, lowering his arm from his face to look at her.
“Did that hurt?”
He swallowed and shook his head. “You should do that again.” He propped himself up on his elbows and watched her intently. She did it once more and finished by squeezing the head gently. “Buffy…” he gasped.
She clapped her hands and smiled, bouncing on her heels. “I’ve brought you pleasure! How wonderful!”
“Kiss me,” he whispered. She looked at him and became lost in his eyes. They were darker now and she didn’t understand the feelings he was awakening within her. Something about this man made her want to claim him for herself. But how to do that was anyone’s guess. So she decided the best thing to do was to kiss him and continue touching him where she was only a moment ago. Kneeling forward, she placed her lips against his and he clasped the back of her head with his hand while she stroked him softly. Every time she did he let out a raspy moan against her mouth and she decided to increase the pressure by wrapping her hand around it completely, dragging it up and down. This seemed to be the correct thing to do as his hips bucked into the air each time, begging her for more. In an instant, and with a speed she was more than impressed by, William had flipped her on her back and covered her body with his, kissing her passionately.
He hooked his hands beneath her knees and pulled them up to wrap around his waist. The closeness of their bodies was sending them both into sensory overload, unable to control the mewls and moans that escaped their lips from the contact. It was unlike anything they’d ever felt before!
William brought his hand between them and rubbed her in that spot she liked so much, sending her into a bucking frenzy of pleasure. When his erection grazed against her wet folds, he broke the kiss to stare into her eyes. They both breathed heavily, the air tickling one another’s lips as they gazed at one another. Something was clicking.
“Buffy,” he said softly, rubbing himself against her, “I don’t want to question what’s happening anymore.”
“Me neither.”
“Whatever it is, it’s bloody brilliant!”
She giggled. “I completely agree.”
“I think we’re supposed to…do something more.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I think that…I’m supposed to do something here,” he said, sliding a finger inside her.
“Oh, William,” she gasped, frantically rolling her head from side to side as he pushed it in further, pulled out and then pushed in again.
A cocky grin graced his face, feeling proud and sure of himself that he was doing something right.
“More, William. More!”
He remembered how incredible it felt when she wrapped her hand around him. She was so tight and wet inside that perhaps it would feel just as good if he placed himself inside her. Grasping the base of his cock, he slid inside her just a little and hissed. Every muscle in his body tensed up in pleasure and Buffy bucked beneath him causing him to sink inside even more. She was so warm, so tight around him, that he couldn’t help but to plunge deep inside her. As soon as he did, a bright light flashed around them and they were suddenly not in the meadow anymore.
“Spike?” Buffy yelled.
“Buffy?”
They were back in the cemetery, only this time, Spike was balls deep inside a very naked Slayer. Fear and anticipation swept over him, knowing full well that he was about to get six inches of wood thrust through his heart. But instead, she bucked against him. His breath hitched in his throat and he eyed her carefully. She licked her lips and cupped his cheeks, pulling him down for a soft kiss. It quickly turned passionate and Spike pulled out slowly, only to thrust into her hard. Innocence was definitely long forgotten.
“Oh, God!”
“Fuck Buffy, so tight! God, you’re so warm an’ wet for me…”
He pumped himself in and out of her deliberately, twisting his hips with every retreat of his cock, rubbing that bundle of nerves within her. She squeezed him, sucked him in, and enveloped him so beautifully that it was all he could do to keep from coming.
“Fuck me, Spike!”
Sweeter words had never been uttered. Spike rose up on his knees, cupping her ass as it hovered over the ground and he plowed into her hard and fast. Her nails dug into his arms, her breasts bounced wildly with every thrust, his jaw clenched and he growled.
“Fuck yeah, Slayer! You like that? You like my cock slamming into your wet pussy?”
“Oh, yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Come for me, kitten. Drench me!”
She arched her back and he rubbed her clit furiously with his fingers as he fucked her. She shouted his name like a cheer as she came, warm fluid covering his cock with her release. Her walls tightened around him, milking him for everything he was worth and Spike’s eyes flashed amber, thrusting at a bruising pace three times before his entire body went ram-rod straight with a feral growl, spilling inside her. He sank down on his knees, caressing her stomach softly with his hands and he looked down at her. Her arms were stretched above her head and she moved beneath him like a cat, purring from his touch. She bit her lip seductively and sighed.
“Damn, I needed that.”
“Told you you wanted my hot body,” he smirked.
“Pig.”
“Bitch.”
“Let’s do it again,” she said, squeezing him from the inside.
“Thought you’d never ask.”
~*~*~
Willow and Tara, with faces stained crimson, walked back to their dorms without saying a single word to one another in fear that the visuals might resurface. The spell definitely worked.
DA END!
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!