Before I begin, please understand that this is only the second fan fiction I've ever written (before that, I hadn't written much since I was in school...a very long time ago); I didn't expect perfection the first time around. I do appreciate constructive criticism; but if you're going to bash my work, please e-mail me instead. Not everyone wants to read it. Or, say nothing at all.
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Out of Character?
1) Felix upset over Izzy's distraughtness over Morgan's sudden death.
If you were madly in love with someone, and they were hurting, I think you'd be hurting, too. Did I go too extreme with this? I don't think so. Think back to the episode "Love May Be Blind...But the Neighbours Ain't," with Felix agonizing on how to apologize to Izzy. He didn't like to see her hurt, and he knew that the kissing rumor hurt her a great deal. In turn, this hurt Felix, making him want to make things right with her.
2) Homicidal maniacs didn't exist in the 1910s.
Rupert Gillis was a very determined young man. In the early years it was Felicity he wanted. (Then again, every boy/young man did!) Now think of Izzy's transformation from tomboy to young woman. She, in turn, became very beautiful, I thought; that would make anyone jealous. Plus, nobody knows what became of him, as he was written out of the series (as were Peter Craig, Andrew King, and the Rays). I wanted to explore what happened to him as he became an adult.
Yes, I do believe homicidal maniacs did exist in the 1910s. If I didn't include stuff like this, I thought the story would get very dry very quickly. Plus, I didn't want to use anything previously used in other chapters. I like to try to end each chapter with a big climax (chapter two ended with Izzy arriving at the lighthouse; chapter five ended with Andrew announcing that he and Peter would be leaving on New Year's Eve; chapter nine ended with Felix's proposal; chapter ten with his kidnaping; and so on), to keep you, the reader in suspense, just waiting to see what would happen next.
3) Sara was not Izzy's best friend.
Who was the one who helped Izzy get a meeting with Felix in "Comings and Goings?" It was Sara. Who was the one who helped Felix get love letters to Izzy (although he thought they were originally meant for Greta)? It was Sara. True; Izzy was there to say goodbye to Arthur (he and Sara just happened to be leaving at the same time); maybe she didn't have time to say farewell to Sara. (See below for further explanations.)
4) Pre-marital passion...
It wasn't like they were having sex, okay? I have read other fan fictions where two unmarried characters show their passion for each other...and they take place during a much earlier time frame than Road to Avonlea did. If you love someone, you show it. Passion is one way of doing that. Plus, I think the kisses Gus and Felicity shared before they got married were pretty passionate, don't you? Plus, Felix and Izzy's kiss in "Woman of Importance" was intense as well.
5) Felicity, fat and ugly?
Felicity was seven months pregnant when Felix and Izzy got married. Many pregnant women feel that they've become ugly, fat, and undesireable by the time they hit their third trimester (seventh month to delivery). Plus, they say things that they regret. Isn't Felicity allowed to do the same?
6) Doting Parents
In Happy Christmas, Miss King, Janet was very upset when she discovered Felix was missing in action. When Felicity mentioned going away to school she said, "I just don't know if I can bear having any more of my children away from me." Plus, during the entire run of the series, she always doted on Felix; he was her "favorite." She would be very reluctant for him to go off and get married, especially with him being home from war for barely a week!
As for Clive, he was also a clinger, in a sense. He kept Izzy from doing hardly anything at times; she was his "baby." It took a lot to get him to loosen up--Muriel's soothing words, mostly. This time, I felt it was up to Felix to get him to soften up: a mature Felix, mind you. Why? Felix was the one who was going to marry Izzy; it was only natural that he convince the father of the bride to give his blessing.
The Arrivals of Velma and Adeline
Naturally I wanted Felix to have to confront both the young women from his past before he married Izzy. Velma was the one who really wanted him; so did Adeline, but not as badly. With Velma it was much easier to "cast her away," because he had no feelings for her. Yet with Adeline, it could have been harder. She wanted to start their relationship over, wipe the slate clean. A younger Felix would have agreed to this, but they needed to confront a more mature, and a more self-certain Felix. He knew what he wanted (to marry Izzy), and Velma and Adeline needed to know that as well.
"One Week"
"One Week" was not totally about the wedding preparations. Anything can happen in the week before the wedding. It was written to show that everyone was as ready as ever for the much anticipated wedding, especially where the bride and groom to be were concerned. They had waited for their wedding for the longest time; they did not want to wait any longer. "One Week" was to show their readiness to be married.
Do I Dislike Gus and Felicity?
Whoever said that I dislike the Pikes jumped to conclusions. I do like them very much, but this fan fiction wasn't about them. I am happy Gus and Felicity got married in "So Dear to My Heart," but I wanted to see Felix and Izzy get their shot at married life, too.
Felicity Was Not in the Wedding? What a Shame!
1) Why wasn't Sara in Felicity's wedding in "So Dear to My Heart?" To me, having Sara in Felicity's wedding made more sense than having Izzy in the wedding; the only time Felicity and Izzy ever associated with each other was in the episode "A Fox Tale," where Felicity gives Izzy advice on how to deal with Felix.
2) I must go back to my earlier point, in that Sara was the one who helped pave the way for the Felix/Izzy saga in the first place. She was more of an asset, and, I thought, a much better choice for the wedding party.
3) At the time of the Felix/Izzy wedding, Felicity was seven months pregnant. Even if Izzy asked Felicity to be a bridesmaid, Felicity would've refused. Izzy was acting in Felicity's best interest at that time.
The Wedding Ceremony as a Whole
My ultimate goal for the ceremony was to top Gus and Felicity's. Think about it this way: Olivia and Jasper's wedding in "The Ties That Bind" (aka "Sister of the Bride") was great. Gus and Felicity's in "So Dear to My Heart" was better. If the trend continued, that would mean the next wedding would try to top Gus and Felicity's anyway. The couple getting married was Felix and Izzy.
I also thought that in "So Dear..." that we didn't get to see enough of Gus and Felicity's ceremony or reception (like the exchange of vows and rings, the cutting of the wedding cake, their first dance, etc.). I wasn't about to do that to Felix and Izzy. That's why I went into so much detail with their ceremony and reception.
The Epilogue
Let's go back to "Love May Be Blind..." for a spell. Felix's intent was to go to "the next level" with Izzy. They had been friends for a long time, and Felix was ready for something more. It didn't go as planned for them. Don't you think Felix and Izzy would want to go back to Pine Bend to try again, especially since they were now married, and that was where it all started in the first place?
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I hope I explained my madness well enough for you. If you're still stumped, do e-mail me and let me know, and I'll try to answer your questions. :)
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