For personal use and select distribution only; ©2000 by Michelle (Shelly) Taylor
I checked the message board at the Shrine on January 21; someone had a lot to say about my fan fic. I explained that there is a method to my madness, and that this would be coming out to explain why I did what I did.
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 please e-mail me instead. Not everyone wants to read it.
******************************
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. (Everyone 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.
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 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.
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.
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. Plus, they say things that they regret.
6) Mothers
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 him; he was the "favorite." She would be very reluctant for him to leave her sight, especially with him being home from war for barely a week!
The Arrivals of Velma and Adeline
Naturally I wanted Felix to have to confront both the other 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; 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.
"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 is obviously mistaken. I do like them very much, but this fan fiction wasn't about them.
Felicity Was Not in the Wedding? What a Shame!
Well, let me answer this question with another question: Why wasn't Sara in Felicity's wedding? Sara would've been a much more practical choice than Izzy for Felicity's wedding, I thought. That's why Felicity was not in Izzy's wedding. To me, it made much more sense to have the ones who actually had a part in Izzy's life to be her bridesmaids and maid of honor--hence Sara and Dora as bridesmaids and Cecily as maid of honor.
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?
******************************
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. :)