Sands of Time (Buffyverse story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Sands of Time
Author(s):	Wolfling and Jameswalkswithwind
Date(s):	2000 - ?
Length:	Series, 2518kb, long!
Genre(s):	S1 AU, slash
Fandom(s):	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Relationship(s):
External Links:	@Gila's Cave, @Ao3
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Sands of Time was a series written by Jameswalkswithwind and Wolfling.

It was often recced and is considered a classic Spander fic.

Summary

"Xander finds a new home with Giles, and a new relationship with Spike. AU, late Season 1 onward."

The Series

The series consisted of eight individual stories. A ninth story was planned but never completed.

• Sandy Places in the Skin
• Sandy Places in the Heart
• Sandy Places on the Ground
• Sandy Places in the Soul
• Sandy Places Overseas
• Sandy Places in the Shadows
• Sandy Places Among the Angels

Author's Intro

From James' intro to their reposting of the series on Ao3:

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far-- no, sorry, wrong fandom. Wolfling and I did write a lot together, and this was one of them. An epic tale of Xander and his crappy childhood, and how Giles rescued him, and how Xander and Spike fell in love (well, sex, and then love or something like insanity?) We were short on research and long on pain, but the series has long been enjoyed by fans so it can't be too horribly embarrassing? I'm not re-reading it as I go, because that way lies madness and also editing, which would mean this wouldn't get posted for another five years.

Related & Inspired

• Fanfic cover by Averil

Reviews and Reception

"Sandy Places In The Skin" can be read in isolation, but you'd need to read the rest in order if you wanted to follow the whole thing. These stories are a good read and, although there is a slight tendency to make Xander into a combination punching bag and martyr at times, I think this is a wonderful AU series of stories. I like the bits with Spike the best because these have a very nice emotional intensity to them. I haven't read past "Sandy Places Overseas" - this one pretty much defeated me because Xander's reaction to Giles' relatives was a little too OTT for me, and I decided not to read any further until the series was complete. I like this first story the best - along with parts of the second and third stories. I'll be interested to see how the last stories turn out but it's been quite a while since the last update.

I love the writing of this, very well done, even though this Xander is more insecure than who we see on TV. This is more than just a Spander fic, this is about Xander and his sexual relationship with Spike, his father/son relationship with Giles (which I really adore) This starts during S1, the first fic that touches Xander's abusive home life. My favorite is Sandy Places in the Ground because it has lots of action and shocking moments.

NC-17 overall. AU series in which Xander escapes an abusive home early in high school, is adopted by Giles, and starts a relationship with Spike. Non-chipped, Season 2 Spike. Shiver now. Read. Shiver again. Angsty and wonderful.

Spike/Xander. Long series consisting of a number of finished stories and some that are planned out but not yet written. Xander moves out of his parent's house and in with Giles, and then things with Spike start to get... interesting. Follows Xander through high school, overseas with a visit to Giles' family in England, and into college. So far.

Why you should read this: This series appeals to the hurt / comfort junkie in me. That's certainly not the only reason I read it (repeatedly) - and it's not the only reason you should read it, either - but it's a big part of the appeal, from my perspective. The Spike/Xander sex scenes are very hot, and because this is pre-chip Spike the implications of a Spike/Xander relationship are deep and sometimes troubling. Xander has to struggle with his decision to keep his relationship with Spike hidden from Giles, and being in his head throughout this series is a fascinating ride. Artistically written without being pretentious.