Help Yourself in Seven Days by Sotia

Jags
11/06/2013 01:04 am
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
That was really good! There should be a sequel

02/18/2013 12:48 am
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         

I loved this! Especially the tunr-aroud where naturally, if Spike won't touch Buffy, then she's the one doing the seducing.

Basia
11/15/2012 11:14 am
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
Really enjoyed it. Great ending.

shefelldown
01/28/2011 10:10 pm
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
i just read this in one sitting!  it's so good, such a nice way to deal with all of buffy's issues, instead of shovin them under the rug.  i really enjoyed.  thanks.

01/24/2011 12:45 am
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
Yay ! ! !  love it.
I can totally picture the look on Angel's face when he got that phone call.  This was a perfect ending.  Buffy finally gave to Spike all the love he always gave to her.

01/22/2011 10:44 pm
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
"My friends will get over it eventually.

Angel may not, but then again, it really isn’t his business. "

perfect!

BMS
01/22/2011 10:26 pm
Day Seven – Don’t be afraid to be yourself         
AWESOME. I really enjoyed this story and I have been dying to see how it ends. Any story that ends with telling Angel off makes me a happy reader.

Aibell
06/22/2011 11:40 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
fabulous chapter.  I laughed out loud at "my special little snowflake" great job

Emma
01/10/2011 09:38 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
Oh it´s so great!! Please write the last part! I love it :)

Emma
01/10/2011 06:25 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
Oh it´s so great!! Please write the last part! I love it :)
Thank you :) Last part is up now. I hope you like!

xxx
Sotia

Emma
01/10/2011 06:25 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         

Emma
01/10/2011 06:24 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         

Purr.
01/09/2011 08:07 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
OMFGOMFGOMFGOMFG.. Gaaah! Love it!!! :D Gotta love Spike too for making Buffy wear something slutty again, rofl. I cant wait for the next chapter :)
I LOVE EXCITED REVIEWS!!!

Thank you :) Last chappie is up now!

xxx
Sotia

01/09/2011 04:41 am
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
oh I have butterflies ! ! !  I love the honesty, and the fact that Buffy seems to have arrived.  Looks like Spike may have succeeded. 
I am eager for the next chapter to see how Spi'ke responds to Buffy's behavior.  I hope she treats him well
This story is truly a beautiful thing.
YAY butterflies!!!

Spike has succeeded indeed, but he has some way to go, too, and maybe that'll take a whole other fic... *whistles innocently*

Thank you for reading, liking, and taking the time to let me know. It means a lot!

xxx
Sotia

BMS
01/08/2011 07:43 pm
Day Six – Live a little (and stop trying to seem so proper!)         
Love it. Been waiting for the update impatiently!
Thank you :) I'm sorry for the delay on the update; I managed to write it in time, but one of my betas was busy.

It's up now, though, and I hope you enjoy!
xxx
Sotia

BMS
01/03/2011 12:40 am
Day Five — Stop thinking the world will end if you aren’t there to spin it         
Still anxiously checking regularly for updates - I am enjoying this thoroughly.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

xxx

Jeleyne
01/03/2011 12:25 am
Day Five — Stop thinking the world will end if you aren’t there to spin it         
Great last line - disarmingly Spike with a slice of wry.
Thank you so much :)

xxx

01/02/2011 09:25 pm
Day Five — Stop thinking the world will end if you aren’t there to spin it         
I've always disliked season 6 Buffy, but thanks to the growth she is showing here I really like her.  Making choices that won't hurt Spike.  However, as always, Spike is risking serious hurt and heartbreak in order to do good by Buffy.  Oh how I hope that the end of the 7 days heralds in the start of a mature relationship between them based on friendship and mutual respect,.
"I've always disliked season 6 Buffy, but thanks to the growth she is showing here I really like her."

I think this is the best compliment anyone has given my Spuffy-writing. Thank you so very much!

A mature relationship between them is what I am aiming for. I hope I succeed :)

xxx

no_promises
12/19/2010 11:55 am
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part B)         
Big doses of honesty all around.  I can actually picture Xander reacting that way.
Still enjoying this sweet story, and looking forward to more.  Please continue
Thank you! I had actually started writing the conversation with something different in mind for Xander's reaction, but I try to have the characters in my head while I write, and this felt more natural.

Thank you again! I'll be posting one more chapter tonight, once I'm done replying to reviews. This story is almost over...

xxx

Purr.
12/19/2010 12:41 am
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part B)         
Awesome Xander characteration!! :D And the sweet Spuffy luv was great :) Love love love it.

Thank you for writing :D
Thank you, so very-very much :) You made my day!
xxx

12/19/2010 12:36 am
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part B)         
Oh, Xander-gave it back .. hurt.. At least Buffy let him know..
And still wanting to "use" Spike-shame. 
Lovin'  Spike's stories.  
  Looked up  Mathew and the Mermaid.. and him singing to her and how the fishermen knew when not to go out to sea. 
  Have a nice trip.
I had a nice trip, thank you :) (and hey, you're reading on another site too, right?)

Xander could never hold back when he was accused of something. Especially when he thought he was right. Or that's how I see it :)

Glad you're liking Spike's stories, thank you!
xxx

no_promises
12/15/2010 12:35 am
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part A)         
I see growth in Buffy, and in complete Buffy style she is fighting that growth tooth and nail.  I'm looking forward to how she deals with Xander, the most prejudiced and least likely to accept Spike of all the scoobies.
You'll find that out soon enough!

I'm glad you see the growth and that you consider it in character :)

Thank you!
xxx

BMS
12/14/2010 07:18 pm
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part A)         
My only complaint is that it needs to be posted faster. I am really enjoying the premise of this one.
Oh God, I think you're going to hate me when I say there will be no update next week *bites nails*

I'm glad you're enjoying, though :) Thank you!
xxx

12/12/2010 12:37 am
Day Four – Let people know how you feel (Part A)         
The Truth will set you free..

enjoyed
So true!

I'm glad you enjoyed. Thank you!

xxx

Purr.
12/06/2010 12:20 am
Day Three – Relax          
AWW! :D I was all smiles and giggles throughout this chapter :D This is quickly turning into one of my all time faves :)
Now you made me smile! Thank you for the review; I'm really glad you liked the chapter!

xxx

no_promises
12/05/2010 10:31 pm
Day Three – Relax          
so sweet  -  opening up to each other  -  showing their vulnerabilities  -  a self-confident Spike and a kinder and gentler Buffy.  All I can say is beautiful.
Thank you very-very much. I think if Spike had been this Spike, Buffy would have no option but to be gentler (then again, I do have some warped notions in my head. Heh)

xxx

12/05/2010 10:28 pm
Day Three – Relax          
I have never really liked the season 6 Buffy.  I think she was horrible to Spike, but I am starting to like your Buffy.  Thank you for that
Thank you. I'm honoured you like me Buffy, and I hope she's still Buffy to you, and not OOC.

xxx

12/05/2010 07:31 pm
Day Two – Shirk responsibility         
Love how the comfiness and accepting factor is growing!  Great distraction too in the appearance of Xander. 
Thank you muchly :) I'm glad you liked!

xxx

Purr.
12/02/2010 10:58 pm
Day Two – Shirk responsibility         
 You are an amazing writer! Please update :D :D
Thank you so much for saying this. I hope you liked the update :)

xxx

11/28/2010 06:42 pm
Day Two – Shirk responsibility         
I adore this story.  It is so sweet. 
Spike truly does know just what Buffy needs, and loves her enough to give it to her whether she wants it or not. 
I like how Buffy finally directed her anger where it truly belonged - on Willow (the freeloader).  It is also nice to see that if given a chance I think Xander and Spike could actually become friends.
Overall a great little story.
Thank you very-very much for reading, liking, and taking the time to let me know! I hope you will keep liking :)

Xander could be a decent human being when he didn't let bias get in his way. In this fic he's a bit more open-minded and a bit more... vocal than on the show.
xxx

12/05/2010 07:19 pm
Day One — Delegate         
Buffy hard exterior needs to be melted for her own good...but she doesn't see it yet.  I like the way you are slowly opening her eyes to the problem she has.
I think Buffy is this hard because she has spent too much time with people depending on her. She's afraid to soften up and relinquish control, but Spike is getting to her because he knows how to take care of people. I'm glad you like the pacing of this story. Thank you!

xxx

spikez_tart
11/26/2010 10:15 pm
Day One — Delegate         
Poor Buffy, getting smacked back.  :)
Heh, I know. How dare Spike do that?

Thanks for reading!
xxx

11/22/2010 12:48 am
Day One — Delegate         
I like how obvious it is that Spike truly does love Buffy.  He doesn't just want her for sex.  Hopefully this "tough love"  experiment will do her some good.
Keep fingers crossed ;-) And yes, he does love her. Sigh. Too bad he didn't go the "tough love" route in the show...

xxx

Sue
11/20/2010 08:24 pm
Day One — Delegate         
Oh, Buffy... how lucky you are..

Enjoyed- love the selection of reading material.. guess we will see if she makes that transformation.
I like how some of the readers assume the choice of stories are about Buffy and others that they're about Spike. I guess that means both of them need some transformation, huh? ;-)

Glad you enjoyed. Thank you!

xxx

Melissa
11/20/2010 04:52 pm
Day One — Delegate         
Wow, I really like this.  Your writing is really lovely, too--particularly her waking up terrified, it just broke my heart all over again.  I'm excited to see where you take this!
Thank you so very much:) You can't imagine how happy it makes me that you like the story and my writing!

xxx

01/29/2011 04:47 pm
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
Hi there again! I just wanted to clarify my previous review. I do know Buffy allowed Spike to chain her up, lol I remember the handcuff scene vividly. What I meant was I highly doubt Buffy would have agreed and willingly remained chained in Spike's crypt for more than a days romp. I do realize how damaged she was in Season 6 and that she didn't handle some of her responsibilities all that well (i.e. Dawn) however I also think in Season 6 she was trying so hard to feel 'normal, or at least project an image of normal that I can't see her agreeing to remain with Spike. In fact after their 'romps' she usually got up and bolted immediately *because* she saw something wrong with just being there. She was clearly uncomfortable there unless she was shagging his brains out so her agreeing to remain there...I firmly believe the Buffy in Season 6 would have not only broken out of those chains but probably used them to severely damage Spike,  for even suggesting it, lol.

However, that said I have been reading and finished this story and I dd really like it a lot. I do enjoy stories that end Spuffy (obviously), ..just the chaining up and controling her bathroom habits etc kind of made me go 'nah, Buffy wouldn't let anyone control her like that...'..but I do grasp that it's an AU so it doesn't 'need' to be perfectly in character as most Season 6 Spuffy stories do take Buffy in a far different direction than we saw on screen.

Anyway, I'm so sorry for completely rambling, think I caught a case of Willow 'word vomit' lmao..I just wanted to clarify that because I realized looking back, that my remark may have come off a little bitchy which was definitely not my intent. I think you wrote a great little story here! 

Blessings,
Rhaya :)

12/05/2010 07:03 pm
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
Ooh, this is promising to be a much needed real intervention!
Hopefully it will be a successful one :)

xxx

11/26/2010 10:07 pm
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
LOL when Spike dropped her on her butt.  She so deserved that.  spikez_tart
She did, didn't she? Glad I made you laugh :D

xxx

11/15/2010 05:07 am
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
This is a little out there with Buffy all chained up lol..I highly doubt the Buffy I saw on my screen would have allowed that, but you definitely have my interest.
You doubt that the Buffy you saw on your screen would have allowed *getting* chained up, or *staying* chained up? Because we have all seen the first one happen, and she wasn't any happier about it in this story than she was on TV ;-)

The way I see Buffy's mentality in Season Six would take me pages to explain in detail, but all in all I think she was insecure about everything, and the reason she treated Spike like she did was largely due to the fact that he allowed her to.

With Spike being more assertive, and Buffy at her most vulnerable--think Bronze balcony--I don't think there's any conclusive evidence against her being passive and allowing him to tie her down. After all, she can free herself whenever she feels like it, no?

I'm glad I have your interest and I hope the rest of the story helps my Buffy seem more in character to you.

xxx

Dreylin
11/14/2010 11:58 pm
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
Nice start.  I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Thank you so very much :) I hope you like what's next, too!

xxx

no_promises
11/14/2010 06:06 am
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
since Spike truly knows Buffy better than she knows herself I have complete faith that everything he will do will be in her best interest and based in love.  Great start to the story.
Thank you so very much for reading and liking, and for your faith in Spike--and in me, via association :)

xxx

Sue
11/14/2010 02:58 am
Day Zero – Realize you Have a Problem         
Buffy.. relaxed in chains LOL .. hand fed and read bed-time stories..

And loved.. 

The way Buffy sought to punish herself and feel in Season Six, it somehow seemed fitting to me that she'd relax if she were forced to.

And Spike had already tried chains in the past--maybe this time he did it right?

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

xxx