Slay Bells by Eowyn315

11/10/2011 08:32 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         

Pleasure reading the series once again -   Congratulations of terrific series.

11/26/2010 07:56 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Was wonderful to read this again -  It is an excellent middle road between a happy, fun Christmas story and the series history.  I have to read all your Season Six alternative now -

I will make it one of my Christmas recommends over at Buffytube -

dzio
06/20/2010 04:10 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Whew. Points for Buffy, but apparently the stupidity jumped over to Spike. ;) Good thing it worked out in the end. 

Thanks for your work, whatever you might think after that rant few chapters back I really did enjoy reading this. Maybe not so much because of the romance part, because, like I said earlier, it stretched the limits of how much hot-cold, "I'd like to, but I'm scared", immature drama-queen crap I can stand. Um. Sorry, got carried away. Again.

But (and it's a nice but)! All stories in this arc are really well developed, I think you write amazingly good dialogue and your characterization of the Scoobies is great. Not the way I see them and not necessarily the way I'd write them if I wanted to change them, but it makes sense and it just works. I liked your OCs too, especially Susan and Emma. Since your Spike kinda lost his "truth-teller" place in the group in some places, what with him being too close to the problem to really see it, they both provided much needed kicks in the butt when the rest of the gang were being too pig-headed. ;) And the plots are really nice. There's a lot of stories that have nothing to offer except a massive overload of drama and romance, and all else is just window dressing. Here I had the feeling that it actually mattered and was more than just a way to bring us a step closer to Spuffy. ;) 

So, thanks again, and I'll be reading more of your stories later (and probably leaving a lot of longish and ranting reviews too), now I have to go and vote, it's presidential election day over here. ;)

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Sweet. :-)
05/10/2010 10:14 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
 

12/22/2009 04:43 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Wonderful! Absolutely loved it!!

07/13/2009 11:26 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         

As I said in the "Looking for a Fanfic"-Section, I did enjoy this story very much. The whole storyarch from The hardest thing in the World to Slay Bells is well composed, you gather up all lose ends, and, may I ad, you do it in a elegant and eloquent way.
But I have to ask:
You didn`t just borrow Susan, you were a little inspired by Harrys adventures, weren`t you? I mean this question in a totally positive way, because I think it was really good, but I think I noticed a familiar, for a better word of it, tone or atmosphere. Perhaps it is because I listened to Storm Front and Fool Moon just two days ago, but sometimes i just waited for Harry to round the corner.
Perhaps that will happen someday? You already have the Susan link...

Thanks again, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I actually wrote most of the series before reading the Dresden Files, so probably the tone is just similar by coincidence (or because that's the type of stuff I like to read in general), but some of the magical elements are based on the Dresden 'verse, like thaumaturgy and some of the combat magic. The Buffyverse doesn't explain how magic works nearly as well as the Dresden Files, but I think they have a similar enough basis that one works in the other's world.

I would love to write a Buffy/Dresden crossover - probably not in this series, but as a standalone story - but I haven't figured out how to reconcile the different types of vampires yet. :)

Amara D'Angeli
04/14/2009 02:25 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Wow - really wish you were going on with this one!  I've loved every minute of it.  If you do happen to move forward (or if you already have elsewhere) I'd love a heads up!  amaradangeli@inbox.com
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Sorry, no plans to continue this one at this point, but if I ever do, I'll post it here (assuming the site gets fixed).

sister cuervo
03/01/2009 03:52 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
 Wow!  Excellent ending.  You've really done a fabulous job of tying up the plot .  Wonderful writing.

sister cuervo
10/19/2008 01:30 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
 What a wonderful series.  I have enjoyed them immensely. They have got just the right touch of "will she", "will he?" plus loads of plotty goodness to sustain the story through all the sections.  Much more satisfying that the actual Season 6.  Great work!
Thank you for the review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the series. :)

09/01/2008 01:54 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
remember commenting " about waiting 'til easter" to read your christmas fic. the tale was posted on time. it was my rl issues that caused me to add it to my to be read file. so, near labor day, i am thanking you for allowing to read your fine holiday fic. fun read, again, thank you.
Heh, holidays are fun whenever you celebrate them! Thanks for commenting!

Deb
01/25/2008 10:58 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Have thouroughly enjoyed this fic. Tender touching and heartfelt that they have come full circle. Would have loved for this fic to continue on into them moving forward with the relationship. I wouldn't have minded some spuffy loving either as you get their chemistry right. It has been a great read. Looking forward to your additional writings!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. If the Spuffy loving happens, it'll be in the next fic in the series, which doesn't seem to be forthcoming right now. Guess we'll see. Thanks for the review!

Cas
01/19/2008 09:58 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Terrific holiday story - very well written, plotted and god characterization. Loved the ending. Thanks for sharing, and happy new year.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. Happy new year to you, as well!

01/17/2008 10:47 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Lovely writing. Have enjoyed the series as a whole. Lots of give and take in the relationship, a bit of angst, a bit of tenderness. It's been a thoroughly engaging story. Now I'll have to go back and read it all the way through again!
Thanks! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed it. (And hey, if you read it all over again, that'll give me some time to work on the next one!)

01/16/2008 08:36 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
I'm going to miss this fic sooo much! This chapter was particularly great, the line with Xander's "naughty list" made me laugh, but what I really loved was:

"Someone who knew what she wanted, and recognized that she was holding it in her hands."

This is how Buffy should have been. I'm glad you fixed that. You know, those shows creators have some good ideas, but then they're screwing them up :)

I hope you'll start a new fic soon!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. As for a new fic, I can't seem to go very long without posting something, so I'm sure it's not too far off. :) But nothing's sparking me at the moment, so I can't say if it'll be the next one in this series or something completely different.

tess
01/16/2008 08:16 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Thank you for a fabulous story. Glad it all turned out lovely in the end - had me worried for a while there. Anya's naughty list comment was pure class.
Haha, glad you liked the naughty list. Thanks for the review!

01/16/2008 08:12 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
This was a perfect ending to this long ride!
"Her touch was tender, unhurried, not the frantic fumblings in his crypt or the zero-to-sixty lust of the graveyard, but the languid kiss of someone who knew she had all the time in the world. Someone who knew what she wanted, and recognized that she was holding it in her hands." Nothing better sums up what we all hoped Buffy would one day realize and acknowledge. This paragraph alone was worth every moment of angst and every time Buffy drove me crazy.

I felt sorry for Jacob but that resolution was the only possible one for him.

Liked the use of the Council in clean-up and Buffy protecting Spike's "guilt" from those likely to vote for staking.

I have the feeling that at the end of this S6 ride Spike would be looking into a soul just as he did the one in canon...same reason actually just different impetus. He knows that without that soul the time may come when he won't know the right choice and he now wants that power of knowing. I can see this Spike heading for Africa (only letting Buffy know to one degree or another of his plan...certainly his intention to return)in quest of his soul.

Really wonderfully written series here and your Buffy actually grew up. Her love is built on certainty not like on screen. She has fought it but KNOWS what and who she wants...no cookie cooking needed. The oven has dinged at last.

Kathleen

Thanks, sweetie! I love reading your reviews. Always so thoughtful (both in the "kind" way and in the "full of thoughts" way). :) I'm glad you liked that quoted bit - I was kind of proud of that line.

Interesting thoughts about the soul. I haven't really thought that far ahead (and honestly, not sure whether I'll get that far in the series). When I first starting writing this series (lo, those many months ago), I intended it to be a story where Buffy manages to make things work with soulless Spike. But you're right - he's definitely going to be challenged, and uncertain that he's making the right choice. Especially considering what I have planned for him (evil laugh - mwahahaa), I can certainly see him feeling like he needs the soul.

ya_lublyu_tebya
01/16/2008 05:17 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Aww yay!! I was petrified Spike was going to leave but I'm glad Buffy persuaded him otherwise. This has been a brilliant story with so many wonderful twists and turns and just what I like to see, a happy end. Well done!!
That would've been a shame - if he left just when Buffy was ready to give him what he's wanted. See, I can give a happy ending once in a while... :) Thanks for the review!

Angie
01/16/2008 03:14 pm
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
This was a great story, I'm gonna miss it. Oh Yeah Im SO with Anya on the whole Santa Claus thing, and that's all I'm gonna say about that!
*gives you awkward look* Santa kinks... overshare? Maybe. ;)

Thanks for the review!

kim
01/16/2008 08:34 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Love Anya's last comment there, LOL!

Awww, Buffy finally got to the believing part. And the Scoobs are at least ambivalent, if not welcoming...

Good that Willow still gets that overdue training, too!
Yeah, Buffy's (finally) right there with Spike. And see? We always knew the Scoobies would come around.

01/16/2008 06:08 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Great ending! Love that Buffy covered for Spike so she didn't have to deal with the others reactions and probable attempts of staking. And the following reassurance is something Spike really needed after that. I think it worked out well that Jacob just left town. No loose ends, no reminders, just everyone attempting to move on. Great idea to end it with a "family" Christmas, including Spike! I'll miss this story, but I'm glad it turned out so well!
Thank you! I don't think there was really any other option for Jacob but to leave. Sticking around would only be painful. I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

01/16/2008 04:13 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
OH I loved it.
Glad to hear it. :)

01/16/2008 03:41 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Thank you for this wonderful story.
Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

01/16/2008 03:29 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
WOW - the end - and a wonderful ending it was - I so enjoyed reading the entire work - thank you for giving us such a great Buffyverse story.
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked the ending!

Pam S
01/16/2008 02:56 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
Loved it.. and the happy ending..
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

time of change
01/16/2008 02:45 am
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas         
*sniff*

Wonderful ending. Lovely last line. I'm just sad that it's over.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. And, you know, "over" is such a subjective thing... lol.

dzio
06/20/2010 03:49 pm
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Yay for the action! :)
And seriously, if Buffy does the whole "oh my God, you killed him, he was human and you just killed him, you evil you" thing, I'm going to... Hm. Not much choice with a fictional character, is there? I'm going to write a story in which she falls madly in love with a mucus demon? 
Glad you liked it! :)

12/22/2009 04:34 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Wonderfully written edge of the seat action!

time of change
01/13/2008 03:29 pm
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Whoo-hoo! What an exciting chapter! Great fight scenes.
Thanks! Glad you liked the fight scenes - they're always so hard to write!

ya_lublyu_tebya
01/13/2008 01:04 pm
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
WOW! That was an azmazing chapter!! Feel a bit sorry for Jacob...but not too sorry. Hehe. Glad they saved the day- especially Tara, 'coz she doesn't get to do much usually. Bravo!!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :)

01/13/2008 09:48 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Yay for non-working Initiative chips allowing Spike to save the day! Really hope the Scoobies don't try to hold it against him. I'm glad Jacob wasn't in on it, but even w/o the recent Spike developments, I can't imagine Buffy could still be comfortable around him after his father went all homicidal.
You just knew that chip shorting out when it did was gonna come in handy. :) And yeah, I think this is pretty much the end of things with Buffy and Jacob. :)

Nikkole
01/13/2008 07:40 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
That was friekin' AWESOME!!
Thanks!! Glad you liked it. :)

01/13/2008 05:52 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
exciting action packed - great update - feel very sorry for poor Jacob -
Thanks for the review! Jacob is in a bad spot, isn't he?

kim
01/13/2008 04:36 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Oooo, well done! The team working together, the realistic fights, Spike going balls out for Buffy. And Tara got to be a hero, instead of the background witch, which always makes me happy.
Thanks! I like giving Tara some hero action. When I plotted this one out, one of the main reasons for incapacitating Willow was that I knew it'd give Tara a chance to shine. :)

01/13/2008 03:11 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
OH Willow is better, please let Dawn be alright and The bed guy seems dead, wonder where Buffy and Spike will go from there.
Yep, Dawn's fine, and the bad guy is indeed dead. :)

Pam S
01/13/2008 02:51 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
You know.. Buffy's little can't kill a human is ... going against a code? Glad Spike was there . And is she going to give him grief for that.. At least Daddy is dead..

Enjoying
Killing humans has always been a line Buffy was hesitant to cross (probably because it would make her like Faith), even if there are gray areas like this one. Thanks for the review!

01/13/2008 02:33 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
YES! Good job one and all. I imagine Xander and Giles might still have negatives to say about Spike doing the deed but it saved Buffy not only from death but from having to carry the weight of killing a human on her shoulders. Sooner or later she'd have trouble with that.

Excellent high energy fight scenes. Good tension. Nice dash of humor with the phone book observation by Giles. Well done.

Kathleen
Thank you for the lovely review! I think you're right about Buffy - even though she knew he was a bad guy, it bothered her enough to hesitate. I don't think it would've sat well with her if she'd actually killed him. Glad you enjoyed the chapter!

fanfaceandrea
01/13/2008 02:31 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
awesome and that's that.
Hee! Thanks. :)

01/13/2008 02:29 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Awesome, awesome chapter; can't wait to see what the consequences are for Spike's actions; I think he deserves a medal, but I'm sure Buffy and the rest of the Scoobs are gonna have issues!!
Thanks for the review! I think you're right about Spike... guess we'll have to wait and see what Buffy and the gang have to say. :)

01/13/2008 02:23 am
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen         
Jammed, packed action! Great update; thanks!
Thanks! Glad you liked it! :)

12/22/2009 04:21 am
Carol of the Bells         
Well there's the bad vibe attached to Jacob! Neat literary turn of events.

01/12/2008 05:06 pm
Carol of the Bells         
Oh, update soon, don't leave us hanging like that!
Updated as requested. :)

Michelle D.
01/10/2008 04:50 pm
Carol of the Bells         
I'm not sure if I have reviewed yet (bad me) but this story is one of my favorites. I'm not always a careful reader but I knew the proximity to the Crawford Street mansion was a bad sign. Buffy should have trusted her instincts sooner. Great chapter - thank you!
Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it!

pheonia
01/10/2008 03:24 am
Carol of the Bells         
aaaahhhh!!!

jumps around the room in agitation.

(loved it can't wait for more :heart: ^^)

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

dicecanntcry
01/09/2008 08:48 pm
Carol of the Bells         
See what happens when you go to dinner with strange boys Buffy? bad things happen! lol.
Hahaha! I'd say we should question Buffy's taste in men, but then there's Spike...

01/09/2008 07:27 pm
Carol of the Bells         
great update - and thank you for bringing them so regularly. NICE turn and twist on Jacob and his family - can't wait to see where you take this -
Thanks for the review! Glad you're enjoying it!

ennairea
01/09/2008 01:23 pm
Carol of the Bells         
Yay!! Now was Jacob in on it? ;)

More please?!
That is the million dollar question...

ya_lublyu_tebya
01/09/2008 11:46 am
Carol of the Bells         
I knew that Jacob was dodgy!! God, poor Buffy. So much for a normal boyfriend, eh? More soon, please, please, please!
Buffy's life resists all things normal. :) Thanks for the review!

01/09/2008 07:33 am
Carol of the Bells         
Uhoh. Save her Spike!
He's coming! :)

01/09/2008 06:42 am
Carol of the Bells         
I had an initial bad feeling about this dinner when it first came up, but with all of the Buffy and Spike progress I was foolishly hoping it wouldn't happen! Now it makes more sense why Jacob was followed, but I wonder how involved he really was with all of this. Loved the Spuffy scenes especially at the Magic Box when Buffy seemed content to die yet again! Excited for the next chapter!
Heh, I distracted you by waving a sexy Spike in front of you. :) Glad you enjoyed the Spuffy bits!

stupidmonkey
01/09/2008 06:29 am
Carol of the Bells         
motherfucker!!!!
I'm going to assume you don't mean me... ;)

Nikkole
01/09/2008 05:54 am
Carol of the Bells         
OH SHIT!!! I am still in shock! What a cliffhanger!!
Hee, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

kim
01/09/2008 04:18 am
Carol of the Bells         
I knew it!!!

Damn Scoobies, when your friend is looking for such an obvious out, give her one!!!
Haha, they couldn't have known what would happen...

01/09/2008 04:02 am
Carol of the Bells         
"the lack of appreciation to which he'd grown accustomed over the years" You know....that always bothered me on the show. They never seemed to see his accomplishments. They were quick to point out his failures and mistakes while ignoring the amazing fact that he was really trying. The things he DIDN'T do as opposed to what he did were telling in themselves. Yes, he was used to no one noticing. The examples are endless!

KNEW he was the sorcerer! Happy Buffy put it together too and called the backup. Spike should be on his way quickly if not already lurking (er...... watching her back)! TENSE!
Wonder how much, if anything, Jacob DOES know

EXCELLENT.
Kathleen
That's very true... when Spike acted like a human, it was unremarkable to them, but when he acted like a vampire, it was such a terrible thing, when really it should have been the other way around.

Thanks for the review! :)

Pam S
01/09/2008 03:47 am
Carol of the Bells         
The "Scoobies" should have known they wanted Buffy.. the one girl in all the world..

At least they know where the Warlock is..
And I don't think Jacob knew.. I will be surprised. And its Xander's fault..

Enjoying.
Yeah, they knew it was about Buffy... just didn't realize she was walking into a trap. I wouldn't blame Xander - he just wanted her to have a nice dinner. :)

01/09/2008 03:44 am
Carol of the Bells         
I knew it! I knew it! *Spikefan does delirious dance of joy around room* I knew Jacob was evil! Or...at least... his father's evil! Yeah, I knew that!

Awesome chapter; please, need more! Spike's gonna come to the rescue, right?? Hee hee! Can't wait for the next update!
Haha, maybe we should hold off on the dance of joy until we find out for sure if Jacob's evil. :) Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it.

Pam S
01/09/2008 03:44 am
Carol of the Bells         

01/09/2008 03:33 am
Carol of the Bells         
OH no that is not good, I hope they can find her in time.
Thanks for the review!

Tamara
01/07/2008 10:34 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Now see if Spike were her boyfriend then the demon wouldn't have lived long enough to get away with Dawn's hair.
Haha - I was waiting for someone to point that out. :) I'm kinda surprised it took this long...

ya_lublyu_tebya
01/05/2008 11:53 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Oh dear, Dawn's in trouble. Feel bad for Jacob...but am glad Buffy admitted that she wants Spike. Update soon.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! :)

01/05/2008 07:31 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
excellent chapter - so very nice to see that you are updating on a regular basis - being a greedy buffyholic, I hope that RL does not keep you from adding to your wonderful story regularly. Really am enjoying this work.
Thanks! I've just been churning this one out, so it's all good. :) And now we're almost done...

kim
01/05/2008 07:11 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Uh-oh!!

Just rip off the band-aid and get it done, Buffy. The longer you stall, the worse the break-up will be. And deep down, Jacob's probably been expecting it.

I'm glad Willow said the right things there.
You're probably right, but when has Buffy ever ripped the band-aid off on something like this? :)

01/05/2008 02:57 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Come on Buffy, lets get it together. You have to come through on this. Tell Jacob the truth and now you have to be worried about Dawn. Think about what is happening to Willow. I hope that they can figure this all out before it is too late.
Yeah, she's got a lot of balls in the air... let's hope she doesn't drop any. :)

01/05/2008 02:09 pm
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Oh no, looks like her breaking up is not going so well, I think she might need to protect the house some.
Ha, yeah, that might be a good idea...

01/05/2008 09:25 am
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Well, that can't be good! Taking D's hair like that; obviously D must be a part of the ritual in some way... Love the line "death on a Triscuit"; that was fantastic!!! Can't wait for more, please update again soon!
Thanks! I love that phrase. I thought it was something they made up on The West Wing, but I've discovered that real people use it. :)

01/05/2008 07:15 am
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Well that was an unexpected turn of events. Guessing this might delay the ending of the relationship with Jacob. Loved the scene with Willow! It reminded me of the girly talks they used to have and how young they really are. And death on a Triscuit? Interesting.
I always liked the early Buffy/Willow friendship. Shame it was one of the casualties of growing up. I guess that's why I like adding these moments with them. Glad you liked it!

01/05/2008 06:12 am
O Come, All Ye Faithful         
Hair and magic add up to bad things! Oh oh....

Stupid Buffy is being deflected from breaking up with Jacob, can't help but think someone is trying to make sure they are still coupled up for Friday's visit to daddy. shudder

Glad she didn't have sex with Jacob though, at least she's made a decision.

Good conversation with Willow...I'd like to think she'd act this way even in canon for that matter. Spike isn't Angel and once they could see he really loved her (after that summer in canon and by now in your story)it should have been okay with her.

Kathleen
Hmmm... smelling another conspiracy? :) I think you're right about Willow - by season 6, I can't really see her having a problem with Spike, and especially not in this AU. I mean, she let him bite her - you don't get much friendlier than that (unless you're Buffy, lol).

dzio
06/20/2010 03:17 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Okay, I've been sort of thinking about it ever since Jacob pulled out a TV-fixing mojo out of his hat, but now I'm pretty much sure. That dad of his, he wouldn't happen to be called David, would he? A nice, middle-aged guy who just happens to have a son who needed a tiny bit of compelling recently?

The one good thing I can see about this is that this time there's a chance that the guy Buffy's boinking is not trying to dismember her out of his own volition, but is being used to get to her. It will still screw her up (if she can be MORE screwed up than she already is), but not as much as the other thing would.
Ah, yeah, several people guessed that one. Although an equal number of people thought Jacob himself was evil, and I was happy to prove them wrong. I feel like it means more if Buffy chooses Spike because she actually loves him more, not just because the other guy turned out to be evil, you know?

12/22/2009 02:43 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Love the fact that the noose is tightening around the bad guy..whoever he/she is and especially loved the Spuffy cemetery make out.

ennairea
01/04/2008 10:10 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Yay! can't wait for more! Mostly so I can see how the boyfriend guy fits into all of this. I bet his dad is the worlock guy they've been looking for.
Everybody's got a theory. ;) Thanks for the review!

01/04/2008 07:19 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
It seems as if it has taken me FOREVER to sit down and read. I finally got through all of the chapters. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this story. I don't know what is going on with her boyfriend. He gives me the creeps. I am so glad that Buffy just got a little taste when she found out about Spike and Susan. I really feel bad for Susan but she had to know it wouldn't end well with Spike. And they have this warlock to hunt down. I am glad that at least Spike got a chance to tell her about breaking things off with Susan. Now Buffy has to figure out what she really wants. LOVE IT.
I'm glad you had a chance to sit down and read it all. :) Thanks for reviewing!

pheonia
01/04/2008 01:52 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
awww!!

:heart:

Thanks! :)

Nikkole
01/04/2008 02:48 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
At least Buffy is TRYING to open up and be honest with herself. I hope she is able to sort this all out for herself and realize that she wants Spike...BUT, if she hurts Jacob, who's to say he won't be the one to help the warlock get her?
Aw, man. You think Jacob would be that vindictive? :)

01/04/2008 02:19 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
thanks much for the wonderful update - loving this story

01/04/2008 02:18 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
thanks much for the wonderful update - loving this story
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it. :)

01/03/2008 11:42 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Oh I loved the little scene in the graveyard and I am surprised Susan let him go so easy, so how I don't think we have see the last of her.
I think Susan knew what to expect... but that's not to say I won't bring her back. She's fun. :)

01/03/2008 07:22 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Okay, finally Buffy is showing a bit of sense. She is at least admitting to HIM what we all have known... that she DOES want him.

Love his honorable stand with Susan and his sweet thanks for her loving appreciation.

Had a feeling Buffy was the intended sacrifice. That is NOT going to happen if Spike has a thing to say about it (and I suspect he will). Speaking of suspicions...why do I distrust Jacob (and his out of town alibi is too pat as well). Maybe he's going to take her to the sorcerer (His dad???? After all magic was something he learned at home..right?)on Friday???? I'll wait to see of course, but that is my guess (NO you were not too unsubtle I just love trying to guess plot direction in any well written story *G*).

Love the scene where Buffy let down her defences enough that Spike saw she felt rejected and they ironed that out. ADORED the near climax (pun intended) on patrol...hot even if incomplete.

Kathleen
Hee, don't worry about my subtlety, I was figuring people would start putting pieces together around this point... or trying, anyway. :) I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for the review!

01/03/2008 06:04 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Time?! She needs more time?!

Buffy Summers is officially of her rocker.

Just stake me, will?

:) Loved the chapter.

01/03/2008 06:03 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Time?! She needs more time?!

Buffy Summers is officially of her rocker.

Just stake me, will?

:) Loved the chapter.
Well, she does still have a boyfriend. I'd be a little concerned if she didn't have a problem jumping Spike's bones before she'd broken up with Jacob...

ya_lublyu_tebya
01/03/2008 12:12 pm
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Lovely chapter. Glad that misunderstanding finally got sorted out. Why do I get the feeling all will not run smoothly though? Oh wait, coz it's Spuffy!! Anyway, brilliant work and can't wait to see what happens.
Yeah... Spuffy never quite goes smoothly, does it? Thanks for the lovely review!

01/03/2008 04:09 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Yippee! Hope Buffy has finally come to her senses! More soon, please!
Heh, I think that's what everyone's hoping. :)

01/03/2008 04:01 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Now that's what I call progress! I know it'd be too much to hope that Buffy will go immediately break up with Jacob, but at least she's admitting to herself that she wants Spike. And I'm so glad Spike ended things with Susan! Don't get me wrong, she was what he needed for a while, but it was starting to seem a bit too serious for my liking. I am starting to have some suspicions about this warlock and his associations, but I think I'll keep them to myself and see if I'm right. Update soon please!
Thanks for the review! As I've told other people... if you don't guess on the record, you can't take credit for being right. :) I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

Pam S
01/03/2008 03:43 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Glad they have worked out a few of their problems. But died and brought back to life could be quite a few people.. Buffy yes, but might be brought back to "unlife"

Waiting to see what happens.. Enjoying.
"Unlife" isn't the same as life. Giles distinctly said resurrection, not turning...

Thanks for the review!

01/03/2008 03:42 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
"his sexy pose and rumpled “fuck me” look" Is it bad if I find that line completely and totally hot?? Need a picture; brain not working anymore.... Awesome chapter; of course Buffy will now dump J like the replacement stud he is, right?? B's not gonna have second, third or fourth thoughts, right?? You're killing me here, you know? Please update again soon; faithful fan is dying of delayed Spuffy goodness
Oh, lordy, no, it's not bad. :) I might've drooled a little writing it... Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

01/03/2008 03:09 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
ah, my poor sweet confused Buffy. Better get your head out of the clouds and smell the dinner date. Silly girl. But, at the same time, another step in the right direction! Wee!
Hehehe. Thanks for the review!

kim
01/03/2008 03:05 am
As the Snow Starts to Fall         
Ah, Spike's persistence for an answer pays off. And now she feels really silly.

Oooh, David needs a dead Buffy, eh? Big honking mojo he's trying to pull off.....ambitious prick.
Yeah, she really needn't have worried. :) Thanks for commenting!

dzio
06/20/2010 03:03 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
All right, this is going to be a rather lengthy rant. Sorry in advance, I've read the previous three stories and I'm getting close to my own "one-man Chernobyl" moment. Not so much about your story or your writing skills (both of which I think are excellent), I'm actually royally pissed off at your characters (and, to a much lesser extent, at the canon characters). ;) Which should be read as a compliment, I think, people don't give a damn one way or another about badly written characters.

Anyway, this Buffy is so infinitely DUMB that it's a miracle she can walk and breathe at the same time. "He didn't want her after all" indeed. It's good to get people frustrated with the characters and their difficulties, it makes them want to see the situation resolved and makes them empathize and care. But there's frustrating and then there are the depths of stupidity which make you feel contempt for the main hero of the story (and most of her friends). Which is not of the good. I'm finding it harder and harder to cheer for the Spuffy ending, because I think that Spike deserves a lot better. Normally I'm all for Spuffy, and a sucker for a happy-end too, but this amount of crap is simply not worth it. 

Yeah, I know, Buffy's young and everyone is ten kinds of stupid when they're young, even without the Hellmouthy complications. I mean, I'm the bloody queen of the "if I pretend it doesn't exist, it will go away" school of dealing (not) with problems but she just gives the word "denial" a whole new meaning. 

Personally I blame Giles. As a teacher and guardian the man is a total failure of a magnitude that should have him committing seppuku to save the last scraps of respect anyone could still have for him. Five years of being a father-figure to a bunch of teenagers and a result is a power-hungry, monstrously selfish witch, a hateful bigot hiding his insecurities by bullying others and, the best of them all, a super-hero at war with herself, not capable of any kind of logical thinking and as a result doing the headless chicken routine on a weekly basis, who believes every single bit of bullshit that she's being fed and at the same time rebels against those doing the feeding. I mean, seriously. How can you include both “The Council is a bunch of self-important, dried-up old farts who want to control my life” and “Of course the demons of any sort are evil and the vampires can't have feelings, the Council says so” in your world-view, without a serious case of schizophrenia? 

I always thought a Watcher should be a "scientist", you know. Searching for anything that might help the Slayer, expanding the knowledge. Giles, and the Council that indoctrinated him (however he might try to deny it), became more like "high priests". They preserve the sacred wisdom and pass it on unchanged, without questioning, without testing new theories, considering any idea that can't be found in a century old dusty book a blasphemy. I'm just saying, this way of thinking, this mental laziness and rigidity SHOWS in every single one of the Scoobies.

I've been enjoying this story a lot (yeah, I like to get totally exasperated by the characters too). But if they keep using their brains as ballast and hurting everyone (themselves included) by their mindless flailing around, I'm going to stop wishing for Spuffy and start waiting for Spike to leave them for their melodramatic bullshit and maybe come back in two or three decades, when they finally start to grow the hell up...

Wow. That felt good. ;)

Anyway, I know the story was posted ages ago and there's a chance you won't even read it, but I just needed to vent. ;)

I'm... not really sure how to respond to that. I'm sorry you think Buffy's so dumb? She's not intended to be. I certainly was not intending to evoke feelings of contempt - the farthest thing from it. She's the hero of the piece, and thus supposed to be somewhat sympathetic, even if you think she's doing the wrong thing. And that makes me think that I've probably failed in my purpose here, so I don't particularly read it as a compliment.

I expect it to be frustrating for Spuffy fans that it takes them so long to get together, because I am not a typical Spuffy writer and have no qualms about not adhering to the usual tropes and making their relationship easy. I generally don't even care if they end up together at the end of the story. I was imagining this as an alternate version of the TV show, something we plausibly could've seen from the writers (well, setting aside the explicit sex and language that wouldn't be shown on TV), where it's not all about the Spuffy happy ending and relationships take time to develop and there are a lot of bumps in the road.

I will fully admit that this series is probably in need of an overhaul to tighten up the plot arcs, because I do think "Love's Bitch" and "Other Things" are too similar in their structure, and it's unnecessarily repetitive. As a consequence, the number of obstacles between Buffy and Spike would be lessened, which I suppose would give Buffy less opportunity to be too dumb to live. But then I remember that I'm not even interested enough in BtVS fandom to finish my WIPs, let alone open up a completed series and start tinkering again, so it'll probably have to stay as is. If that's frustrating for you, I'm sorry.

Sigh. :-)
05/10/2010 09:14 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
 

12/22/2009 02:24 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
A failure to communicate..but that's what drives us to read more.

ya_lublyu_tebya
12/31/2007 03:11 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Oh, silly silly Buffy. Such an amazing chapter though. Even if I do want to give them both a slap upside the head. Update again soon.
Haha, you're not the only one with that feeling. :) Thanks for the review!

12/30/2007 06:00 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Great, great chapter. I was waiting for that encounter. I'm absolutely surprised that Buffy started to realize how she feels about Spike.

You konw, I really like Susan. If I wasn't a Spuffy shipper I would definitely count on her. Jacob on the other hand is oh-so-lame. I hope he's the one who'll be drained in this ritual.
Thanks! I like Susan, too. Not so down on Jacob, though. :) I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

12/30/2007 04:06 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
You're throwing away your chance! Silly Spike!
Poor guy, doesn't realize how close he is to what he wants...

Nikkole
12/30/2007 03:52 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
AARGH!! Those two are just so damned stubborn!! I love this story, but sometimes I'd like to smack them both.
Heh, wanna knock their heads together a few times? lol

12/30/2007 12:45 pm
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Oh they kissed well 3 times actually, but now Buffy thinks that he doesn't love her that he loves Susan which may be true, because of instead of saying something about breaking up with Jacob and Susan he reinforced he had Susan and then eventually told her to go and it never happened.

I wonder what Buffy will do now.
Yeah, they just can't seem to get it together. Thanks for the comments!

12/30/2007 09:35 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
He's trying to make it easier on you, stupid girl!!!!
Hehe, maybe he should've said, "Please dump Jacob now." That would've been clearer. :)

12/30/2007 06:21 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Can these two get any more stupid? It takes almost losing Spike for Buffy to realize that maybe Jacob was onto something and then after everything, she actually thinks Spike would reject her. Spike has a moment where he's sure Buffy is in love with him then acts like the anti-Spike and lets it go while pushing her away. I'm so very frustrated right now! Anyway, thanks for the return to Slayer duties, fighting, and the Big Bad. Can't wait to see where it goes from here!
Aww, don't be frustrated. I think Spike's reaction is pretty understandable - even though he thinks she's in love with him, that doesn't mean she's ready to admit it, so he thinks he's doing the smart, self-preserving thing by pushing her away. As for Buffy, I don't think she fully understands the scope of Spike's love, and after all her experiences, she's always expecting rejection, so that's what she reads Spike's words as. But really, all they need is a little conversation to straighten things out... (Oh, who am I kidding? Those two? Communicate?)

pfeifferpack
12/30/2007 03:43 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
HAH a taste of her own poisonous medicine eh. Deserved. He knows that the next day she'd just be angry with him and run like the wind. Maybe she'll begin to face her feelings seeing the possibility that he won't always just be there when she has an itch to scratch.

Giles seems to have forgotten all Spike did against Glory and then that summer. Typical to distrust the being who was a comrade in arms just because a wee piece of technology has stopped functioning. All the chip did was prevent Spike from making his own kills it didn't cause him to make the choices he did.

Nice nice update....really enjoyed Spike being the one to put an end to it while she was ready for more.

Twice in this chapter she was confronted with the mortality of Spike (the crossbow and Giles and then his injuries with the demon) and it scared her. Now she is facing the possibility (as if) that he has "moved on"....hum....maybe that's what it will take for her to see the truth.

Kathleen
Thanks for the review! At least Giles remembered longer than Xander did - Xander forgot the minute Buffy came back. I think once the shock of the chip being gone wears off, they'll all settle down. As for Buffy, I think she may surprise Spike...

Pam S
12/30/2007 03:40 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Always with the misunderstandings with these two. And Susan.. dislike the girl.. and poor Jacob knows. Who wants to be second best?

And the ritual.. So who will be the sacrifice?

Enjoying.
Gotta have misunderstandings... it's no fun if it's easy, right? :) Thanks for the review!

12/30/2007 03:24 am
Underneath the Mistletoe         
Oh, that was wonderful!!! Absolutely loved that scene where B saves S; hopefully she'll wake up and smell the blond hottie before it's too late!! Can't wait to read more; will B confess her little indiscretion to J? Maybe he'll leave her! Oh, that'd be sad! *snicker* Please update again soon!
Hehe... your use of initials completely reminded me of Gossip Girl. Thanks for the review! :)

12/29/2007 08:57 pm
Looking to Believe         
Yes David is the sorcerer but names can be changed *G* as can appearances. Lots of possibilities for nogoodnicks to abound.

Kathleen
True... there are many possibilities... :)

nmcil
12/29/2007 03:41 pm
Looking to Believe         
great to have been able to read all these new chapter - you are creating a really wonderful piece of work -
Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)

12/29/2007 08:19 am
Looking to Believe         
I think I actually admire Jacob for having the courage to confront Buffy, but in the interest of self-preservation, I'm not sure it was the best choice long-term. I think Susan should be careful of how much she underestimates Buffy's will to fight for what she wants, at least when she finally figures out what that is and admits it to herself. Still loving this story but hoping the pace picks up a little, at least with their latest Big Bad if nothing else!
Yeah, sorry about that... the relationship stuff sort of took over, and the Big Bad hasn't gotten much attention. But they're getting close to figuring it all out - just one ritual left to crack, and it's only a week 'til Christmas - so there's a showdown looming.

Nikkole
12/29/2007 04:34 am
Looking to Believe         
I am starting to wonder about Jacob. Maybe he is the one who stole Willows brush and gave it to the warlock? I don't know, I just have a funny feeling about him. He is very much like Xander, and that squicks me a bit.

I also have a funny feeling about Susan, but more so than Jacob. I KNOW she's up to something!
Hmm... I never thought of Xander as being squicky... lol. I guess they're kind of similar in that they're both regular humans (although Jacob's clearly got some experience with magic) who care about and are protective of Buffy. They both have issues with Spike, but I think for mostly different reasons - plus, their previous experiences are *very* different, so they have pretty different motivations.

12/28/2007 12:04 pm
Looking to Believe         
"The more she thought about it, the grayer it all became, and suddenly, Buffy realized what it must be like for Spike, having to puzzle out right and wrong when the compass didn’t always point north." Good she's finally seeing Spike at least a little bit. They always hold him to human standards and condemn him when he proves himself a vampire...sigh.

Interesting, there are at LEAST 3 contenders for the sorcerer...Emma (a witch connected to Giles...obvious), Susan (a human involving herself and developing feelings for Spike, or so she says) and now Jacob (knowledge not expected in a "normal" guy)....or someone else entirely. Nice how they've been harvesting for hin/her though...clever twist there!

Spike and Buffy are so vulnerable in their emotions from one another and Susan and Jacob are right there to reap the "rewards"....hum....could it be that Susan and Jacob KNOW each other and are connected to the sorcerer (or one IS the sorcerer) ...nothing better than to distract the two most powerful enemies by using their conflicted feelings against them...hum.....

Got me wondering! Always have me enjoying.

Kathleen
Hmm... I thought I made it obvious who the warlock was back in Other Things. That's not to say one or more of your suspects isn't also involved, though. ;)

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it!

ya_lublyu_tebya
12/28/2007 11:45 am
Looking to Believe         
Ohhh...not sure I like Susan and Spike-ness...but I love what you're doing with this. Feel sorry for Susan falling in love with Spike. And Buffy so is a little bit in love with Spike! God, just love this story. Update again soon!!
Thanks! :) Glad you like it. Susan's not in love with Spike yet, but she knows how easy it would be...

Joan
12/28/2007 10:16 am
Looking to Believe         
Drat! After the last chapter I'd really hoped they had turned the corner in their relationship. Poor Buffy, having to watch Susan flaunt the affair. Guess Spike's not giving her up yet, hmm, and chose to stay with Susan even after that very tender moment? And now both Buffy and Spike are again in bed with people they don't love. Too sad...

On the other hand, my first impression of Emma - gonna like her a lot. She's what canon Willow so badly needed.
I can't really blame Spike - Buffy may be tender at times, but she's not exactly showing him she's open to anything. She did say, "Don't love me," after all. Glad you like Emma! :)

12/28/2007 03:23 am
Looking to Believe         
OH If only Susan would not have shown up, what would have happened between Buffy and Spike. I wish he would have sent Susan home and continued his patrol with Buffy.
I am so glad Jacob told her she was in love with Spike wonder what will come of it.
I don't think it would've been as easy as sending Susan home... the moment was gone, and sending her away wouldn't have recaptured it. If she'd never shown up, maybe a different story...

12/28/2007 03:21 am
Looking to Believe         
That's right, Jacob my boy, she loves the vampire, always has, always will, you're just a diversionary baby-sitter, so get out!!! We all know you're evil! There's the door, don't let it hit you on the ass on the way out!! LOL!

Awesome chapter; can't wait to see more; really REALLY hoping Susan actually cares for Spike, and isn't using him for a story, or because she's evil. While I want Buffy & Spike together, it'd be nice if someone cared for Spike in an honest fashion. I just want him to be happy *sob!* Please update again soon!
No, go on... tell us how you *really* feel about Jacob, lol. I think Susan does really care about Spike, but ultimately, he's not going to be truly happy unless it's Buffy that cares about him...

Thanks for reviewing!

kim
12/28/2007 03:15 am
Looking to Believe         
Silly, stubborn girl. Susan's right, of course. Buffy won't step up to get Spike until it's most likely too late.

Jacob still makes me...twitchy.

Emma was a surprise. S'pose they can use another brain, though, with how far ahead this warlock is.
Jacob makes you twitchy, eh? lol

And yeah, hopefully Emma will be a help to them. Willow did mention her new teacher would be there once finals were over - right in the nick of time, I'd say. :)

12/09/2016 03:26 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
This is such a great continuation of your series - an excellent chapter.

12/22/2009 01:33 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
An very well written chapter!  You captured the essence of the inner turmoil which suddenly plaqued Spike.  What happens when one is not prepared...  A true soul searching.

ya_lublyu_tebya
12/27/2007 05:41 pm
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Another fantastic chapter. Please update again soon.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.

12/27/2007 02:19 pm
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Oh I am glad that Buffy trusts him.
Yep, me too! :)

Bynee
12/26/2007 03:33 pm
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
I love your line on Spike dilemma - unwilling to be a monster, unable to be a man. They are so.............delicious.....woohooo....
Thanks! Glad you liked it!

ennairea
12/24/2007 10:22 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
thank you for the update it's the best christmas present ever!!
Merry x-mas!
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

12/24/2007 08:08 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Wow, poor Spike! No chip, no soul, and only unrequited love to reign in the demon. He doesn't deserve this, and I can't believe Buffy expects him to control himself so easily especially with the whole debacle that was Angelus. Anyway,I enjoyed the beginning of the chapter with the fighting and punching of Xander. Thanks for for the great, extra long chapter right before Christmas! Merry Christmas and good luck with your shopping!
Buffy definitely expects a lot, but I think Spike can handle things much better than Angel could. Merry Christmas to you, too, and thanks for the review!

kim
12/24/2007 07:11 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Ah, malfunction....and now temptation.

And I was starting to think of Willow's illness as some kind of curse....lucky for her Tara's a smart cookie.
Yep, Tara's on the ball. :)

12/24/2007 06:19 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Beautifully written dilema for Spike. You can feel his pain and fear along with the flicker of hope that his unnatural days are over. He is in a private hell that you painted vividly.

Glad Buffy stood up for him with the group. I was delighted at her pure joy in the "fight" when she found out he was off the leash. It speaks volumes that she didn't distrust him at all not from the start!

Aha! Willow is being attacked by this sorcerer...this could be very very bad indeed.

Thanks for the Christmas prezzie!

Kathleen
Thanks! Glad you liked it. :) Spike's definitely got a rough road ahead of him.

TwilightChild
12/24/2007 05:48 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Great chapter, loved it. I had wondered if it was Buffy or just the chip this time, and I really like what you did with it. LOVED the fight, too. Very them. And the tension was high, and if the audience wasn't there, I bet it would have ended in another hot and sweaty activity right there on the floor.

And now the real test. Will Spike be able to make it without the test? Buffy can't just expect him to know what to do, she needs to show him.

I do like how tender she was with him, though. She actually cared about his pain, even more than on the actual show when the chip was degrading.
Heheh, hot and sweaty Spuffy. Not just yet. :) At least, not that kind. Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

12/24/2007 04:14 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
I love the way you've written poor Spike's dilemma; finally the chip is out, but now what??? So often fics have the chip come out, and its no big deal; but Spike IS a demon, and you've laid out his quandry beautifully; I love this series, and can't wait for more; Merry Christmas!!!
Thanks! You're right, it is a big deal, and Spike's got a lot to cope with. I'm glad you like where I'm going with it. :)

Pam S
12/24/2007 03:59 am
Hopes and Fears of All the Years         
Hmm... waiting to see what happens next..
poor Spike. not as strong as I thought he would be..

Enjoy your holiday..
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it. Hope you had a lovely holiday!

12/22/2009 12:24 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
OK, was that really Jacob or some demon?  What happened to the trail?

And Spike? Uh, oh...

ennairea
12/21/2007 03:24 pm
All I Want For Christmas is You         
AHHHHH.. oh come on!!!
Can we PLEASE have a happy ending! please please please. For Christmas?
Hmmmm... I'll think about it. :) Since you said please.

ya_lublyu_tebya
12/20/2007 10:48 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
That was a great chapter. I'm so conflicted though because I love Spike but Jacob's trying so hard... Hmm, wonder how the non-working chip situation is going to go down. Not well, I imagine. More soon!
Yay! You're supposed to be conflicted. :) I'm pretty sure Buffy is. Glad you're enjoying it!

Tamara
12/20/2007 09:10 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
I'm definitely beginning to be suspicious of Jacob again. Did he have anything to do with Spike's chip being turned off because he thinks that menas Buffy will get rid of the competition? And maybe something to do with Willow's illness?

It does seem awfully strange that he was able to undo Tara's enchantment on the tv. Methinks he's not as much of a newcomer to the supernatural as he seems.

Well, he was pretty easily accepting of Willow and Tara doing magic, so he might have some experience there. Whether he had anything to do with the other things going on remains to be seen... :)

12/20/2007 06:39 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
Wow, exciting new development to add to the long list of things these two have to deal with! And yay for the partial Spike and Buffy honesty. Also, gotta applaud Jacob for finally finding a way to effectively suck up to Dawn.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

TwilightChild
12/20/2007 04:50 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
Ohhhhh, now comes the real test...what WOULD Buffy do if the chip didn't work? But then, is it again only her that it doesn't work on? Would be fitting, since she does deserve a punch now and then. As evil as it sounds, love when he broke her arm when she deserved it.

Jacob warming up to Dawn...realistic but still gives a squeamish feeling. I don't hate the guy, but still.

Wonderful update, I pretty much squealed when I saw it.
Heh, she probably does deserve it, but it seemed like Spike managed to give her a punch even with the chip. :) I'm glad you enjoyed it - squealing is always nice! :)

kim
12/20/2007 03:42 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
Ah, he finally figured out she doesn't register on the chip. And enter Buffy freak-out.

Jacob charmed the TV back on? See, evil. :D

Willow's illness is quite...odd. Wonder if she's been cursed?
He didn't "finally figure out" anything... the chip just worked on her in the last chapter. Whatever happened to the chip is new, and has nothing to do with her resurrection.

As for Willow, it *is* strange what's happening to her...

12/20/2007 02:46 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
OH I wonder why it didn't hurt, could he have fried the chip when he broke her arm the night before.

What he said to her is true about haveing to love someone again sometime. I wonder if he will really give Susan up like he offered.
Hmm... guess you'll have to wait and see. :)

12/20/2007 01:59 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
Oooh, oooh!! No chip!!! Ha ha, that'll teach Buffy!!! Loved the scene b/n J & D, even tho I detest J with a fiery passion, since he's with Buffy when everyone knows it should be Spike! Can't wait to see what B's reaction is to the lack o'chip; please update again soon!
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)

Pam S
12/20/2007 01:58 am
All I Want For Christmas is You         
No migrane.. no chip...Naa.. problem is Buffy.

Enjoying.
You think it's Buffy? The chip just worked on her in the last chapter...

12/22/2009 12:13 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
Push came to shove in a glorious manner!  Glad they got that out in the open. 

fangfaceandrea
12/17/2007 04:45 pm
In Sin and Error Pining         
wow !
'nuf said
Hee, thanks!

Joan
12/17/2007 03:49 pm
In Sin and Error Pining         
What an emotional chapter! Good for Buffy for voicing her emotions finally.

I think I'm most worried about Jacob and Willow right now. Willow really doesn't sound good. And Jacob is in physical AND emotional danger. Hey, maybe Jacob and Susan could meet, fall in lust, and run off abandoning Buffy and Spike. Since both are using their partners, I think it would serve them right!
Haha, nice matchmaking, although I think Susan's a little old for Jacob (she's in her early thirties, he's twenty). Maybe we can come up with some other nice non-deadly happy ending for them? Or... maybe not. ;)

12/17/2007 12:32 pm
In Sin and Error Pining         
Oh I am so glad she admitted her feeling wonder what will come of it. And I am trying to figure out who Jacob is following.
You mean who's following Jacob? I'd go with a demon sent by the warlock that's been causing all the trouble so far...

ya_lublyu_tebya
12/17/2007 11:17 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
Oh, wow. That was one hell of a chapter. Jacob being followed surely not a good thing... And I could have sworn some violent sex was going to come out of that fighting. Glad Buffy admitted to her jealousy though. Please update soon!
No, no violent sex yet. This isn't the real season six, after all. :) Thanks for the review!

12/17/2007 11:12 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
On the show in S6 Buffy was so badly damaged from losing her mom and then the total breakdown she had after losing Dawn just before dying herself (not to mention being yanked from Heaven and having to return to daily responsibility that had magnified enormously on Joyce's passing)....I forgave much of her behavior because of it. I didn't LIKE her taking it all out on Spi but could see why she was as she was. Buffy here is not that damaged girl. She's pretty well past all those traumas, she even realizes she is attracted to Spike and that he HAS changed and yet she is so unfeeling towards him and completely inconsiderate of his emotions and hurt. She is completely self absorbed. I really, really don't like her at all. I think I'd hope that Susan would genuinely care for Spike and he move on from Buffy at this rate. She has done nothing to deserve Spike's love still existing.

That said (please know that means your story has very much engaged me emotionally), you are a wonderful writer. I just happen to hate your Buffy to the point that I want Spike to have better and I didn't even with the show because I could sympathize with her there.

I think I also agree with Spike's on show assessment that Buffy needs a bit of monster in her men. Vanilla, even truly nice vanilla just isn't her turn on (even aside from her need to hold back with humans lest she hurt them). I feel a bit sorry for Jacob because all I can see is Riley lite who will be hurt in the long run, another casualty of Buffy's focus on herself.

Sigh...I DON'T mean this as criticism or an argument. This is your story and it is very well told. I look forward to updates and live in hope.

Kathleen
Maybe this is just a difference in perception, but regardless of the reason, I think using Spike for sex and physically abusing him is worse than anything she's done here. To me, there's really no excuse for some of the things she did in season six, depression or not. But being confused about your feelings, or being unwilling/unable to return someone else's feelings for you, that seems like a more realistic situation, and I feel like people have this unrealistic expectation of how considerate Buffy should be of Spike's feelings. She's not obligated to get involved with Spike if she doesn't want to, just because he loves her. She also can't be expected to abstain from sex just because Spike can smell it on her. (Even if her reasons for sleeping with Jacob weren't the right ones, it would've happened eventually.)

I also disagree with Spike's "monster in her man" assessment. I think what Buffy needs is someone who understands what it means to be a Slayer, and is able to love her and support her in all aspects of her life. I don't think you need to be a vampire to do that, but she hasn't really let many "normal" guys into her life to test that out. Things with Riley didn't work out because *Riley* had a problem with not being "monster" enough. He was the one who made a big deal out of being strong and being dangerous. He thought that was why she didn't love him, but he was really just projecting his own insecurities about losing his superhero status onto Buffy. Buffy's problem was that he was a rebound guy, she'd been hurt by Angel, and she would never be able to open up and love Riley enough. But once she gets past that (and I still don't think she is - just the fact that Spike's love terrifies her is indication of that), she would be able to have a healthy relationship with a guy.

I know you don't mean it as criticism - it's just the way the character strikes you. It's the same thing that happened in Love's Bitch, and other than putting Buffy and Spike together (which I'm not ready to do) I really don't know what else to do about it, except to write the story the way I want and not worry about whether anyone likes the characters.

Anyway, thanks for the comments. I do appreciate hearing your opinion. :)

Pam S
12/17/2007 06:02 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
He broke her arm? Doesn't seem like Spike.. pissed or not.

And poor Susan. Being second is being nobody.

I assume Jacob is going to pay dearly for his little trist with Buffy.

Spike wouldn't go after Jacob, if that's how you think he's going to pay for it. He knows better than that... Buffy, on the other hand, he's not afraid to let his anger out on. He knows she's not fragile, and it just might be what it takes to get through to her.

12/17/2007 06:00 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
Wow, Buffy actually being honest with herself AND Spike for once is kind of amazing! But it still amazes me that she knows Spike's expressions, mannerisms, and moods so well but has never questioned why she cared enough to learn them. There was so much pain in this chapter I think my heart actually broke for both of them! Hoping for some happier times before Christmas!
That's a good point... she does know him awfully well. Maybe she should think about that. :) This fic will be pretty serious and angsty, but I'll try to throw in a teeny bit of happiness for you. :)

stupidmonkey
12/17/2007 05:38 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
I was waiting for another story that i hated waiting for an update on. this is it. i'm a little shocked at the interaction between spike and buffy, but then i was like "yeah good for you spike" he finally showed her that she cant just abuse him any more.
Aww, thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)

12/17/2007 05:19 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
Oh, so perfectly done. And I loved Spike's little about face at the end, but she was already gone. Go Buffy for telling Spike that her newest step with Jacob stemmed from her jealousy of Spike and Susan. Can't wait to see what you're planning next!
Thanks! Nice to see a little honesty from Buffy, isn't it? :)

kim
12/17/2007 04:35 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
Got what she deserved, again. And she meant it *exactly* like that, that's the whole bloody problem!! I'm glad Spike finally let into her.

Demon following Jacob, following all of them...biding time still for the big showdown. And Jacob trying to go to the gym just so he can keep up, LOL. You'd have to have the endurance of a triathlete to keep up with a Slayer.

I guess Willow's going to get a taste of how human she is....definitely sick enough for the doctor....

Dawn found something she recognized, but they're stil far behind. They need more brains on this, more translators...
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Tamara
12/17/2007 04:20 am
In Sin and Error Pining         
I'm glad she found out that Spike has other options. Not to mention that he threw it in her face how selfish it is for her to want him to pine away for her while she dates Jacob.

She really is a coward when it comes to facing her friends .They don't seem to be aware of how controlling they are either.

I really don't think it's her friends that are holding her back anymore. Dawn obviously loves Spike, and Willow and Tara, at least, seem fine with him, as does Giles. Anya won't care either way, so Xander's really the only one who'd be upset. I think what's holding Buffy back now is her own fear - she's terrified of the love that Spike offers. It's too much for her. She couldn't love Riley enough, and Spike's love seems so much more overwhelming than what Riley wanted.

12/21/2009 11:54 pm
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
Thanks so very much for not giving a blow by blow sexcapades.  Still think Jacob is plotting something oh so very devious... while Spike is being very much the gentleman especially after feeling "morally inferior to a soulless demon".

kim
12/16/2007 04:53 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
If you have to convince yourself and debate about it, then no, Buffy. Jacob's got to have that inkling by now that he can't hold on to her forever, even if she's *trying* to be with him.

Loved the scene with Dawn - wonder what she got in a fight about, though? Doesn't seem like her style, unless someone said something hurtful about Buffy or Spike? She usually uses words to sting.
Thanks for the review! About Dawn's fight - I doubt it would've been in defense of Spike. Who at school would even know about Spike? Maybe her friends... Could have been about Buffy, but honestly, I think it's the action rather than the subject that's important. She's learning to fight (from Spike) so she's more comfortable with it, but instead of using it to defend against monsters, she's getting into some teenage rebelliousness that's foreshadowing later developments (if I ever write that far).

hobbituk
12/15/2007 11:14 pm
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
Silly, silly girl...
Well, we all do silly things when we're 20 and jealous.

12/15/2007 09:21 pm
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
Tee hee you can make me hate Buffy more than the ME writers ever did LOL.

I had hoped she would have come to some realization after finding out Spike had another interest or so it would seem). But nooooo she used it to make things worse. This girl is just too stupid to live.

Nice as Jacob is I despise him. I really get the feeling that if Buffy weren't running FROM Spike so hard she'd not give him the time of day from boredom.

Great scene with Jacob/Spike/Dawn. Liked the conclusions Jacob came to about "evil" even if he's only half baked.

Kathleen
My intention is never to make anybody hate any of the characters. They can be frustrating, sure, but I'd hope there's always some level of understanding why they're doing what they're doing, even if we think it's the wrong decision.

And I think maybe you're underestimating Jacob (and I hope that's just because of your desire for Spuffy, and not a reflection of my writing). He's meant to be a real, plausible alternative for Buffy - not just someone standing in the way of Spuffy, but someone she could actually be happy with under different circumstances. So, no, I don't think she'd be bored with him at all. But of course, it's difficult for the relationship to work when she already has feelings for someone else.

ya_lublyu_tebya (carryline)
12/15/2007 12:06 pm
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
Love it, love it, love it. She's so trying to compete with Spike and Susan. Glad there wasn't too much detail there though. Good job.
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

12/15/2007 06:38 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
I think I was more bothered by Buffy jumping into bed with Jacob than Spike with Susan. Maybe it's because Spike was only seeking solace, he needed some way to temporarily forget the pain but Buffy is just trying to force herself into this relationship with Jacob, to ignore the hurt she feels about Spike being with Susan, even if she doesn't realize that's what she's doing. Either way, it still registers as ick in my brain! Please tell me we're getting close to a Buffy epiphany, and I won't have to endure more of this!! Please?!?
Well, I don't know about "epiphany." Buffy's certainly got some denial to face up to, but I wouldn't expect her to suddenly snap out of it and realize she's in love with Spike.

krjemb
12/15/2007 06:13 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
As I was trying to say...Buffy, jeez that was stupid. The things she has done make my head spin in the" I can't believe she did that" sense. When is she going to actually learn from her mistakes? And when has sex with a guy ever been hassle free? It's the very opposite. Buffy has me wanting to hand Spike over to Susan gift wrapped with a very pretty bow.
Mmmm, Spike gift-wrapped with a bow...

Oh, sorry, you were saying something? Hee. Well, I think Buffy's about to be confronted with the consequences of her mistakes...

KRjemb
12/15/2007 06:09 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         

12/15/2007 04:48 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
*sob* What is she thinking??? Poor Spike; I don't see this ending well; please, please update again soon; I'm dying to see how this plays out. Poor SPike! *Sob!*
Thanks for the review! I'm sure this won't go over well at all with Spike...

fangfaceandrea
12/15/2007 03:49 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
ooh a jalousie-sex vicious cycle! if i wasn't hooked before...
Poor Buffy though, the more she wants an easy life, the more she manages to complicate it.

Also Dawn and Spike's relationships keeps n etting better. He's really honing his authority figure skills with her XD
Heh, glad you're hooked. :) Thanks for the review!

12/15/2007 03:14 am
Candle Wax of Melted Dreams         
No she wants Spike why else would she be jealous of him. I am glad Spike made Dawn tell.
Oh, I don't think Buffy has any idea what she wants, lol.

Yay. :-)
05/10/2010 07:21 am
Deck the Halls         
 

12/21/2009 11:44 pm
Deck the Halls         
Wheee!  The shoe is on the other foot.  Really liked this chapter!  But I'm getting evil vibes off Jacob.  Wonder why?


 

TwilightChild
12/13/2007 10:31 pm
Deck the Halls         
You know, normally I really don't like holiday fics, but this one has just grabbed me and ripped me to pieces and glued those pieces to the screen. I can't look away, and now I'm itching and itching for more.

Really like this story. And I'm glad that Spike allowed himself a little bit of enjoyment instead of going back to just being Buffy's lost puppy. Can't wait to see where it goes from here.
That's some lovely imagery there... *peels TC bits off computer screen*

I'm glad you're enjoying it. The holiday thing is really sort of just background. In fact, everything seems to be just background, except for the relationship stuff (including what was supposed to be the plot, lol). Oh, well. I guess the story knows where it wants to go. :)

time of change
12/13/2007 02:28 pm
Deck the Halls         
You do great Scoobies, but I think the real sign of how talented you are is that Jacob is so interesting. So often in fanfic, the OCs are just paper dolls used to further the plot. Jacob, on the other hand, is interesting in his own right.
Wow, thanks! One of the reasons I've never attempted original fiction is because I don't think I'm good at creating characters, so I'm so happy to hear that Jacob is working for you. :)

carryline
12/13/2007 02:26 pm
Deck the Halls         
Oh oh oh...now she knows what it feels like!! Wonder what she'll do about it! Keep up the good work
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

pheonia
12/13/2007 08:33 am
Deck the Halls         
whoo I have no life....

will check on this fic again in.... oh a month or sooo!

love it and

luck.
Hopefully, it'll be finished before then... I'd like to get it done before or at least close to Christmas. :) Glad you liked it!

Angie
12/13/2007 04:38 am
Deck the Halls         
Would it make me a bad person if I was glad that Buffy's in pain? Sorry, great chapter!!!
Hmm... maybe a little bit? :) Thanks for the review!

12/13/2007 12:33 am
Deck the Halls         
I like it very much. Now Buffy will understand what Spike goes through when she's with Jacob!
Yep, I think she understands all too well. Thanks for the review!

hobbituk
12/12/2007 11:29 pm
Deck the Halls         
Hah!! Good... !

Just what Spike needs - a Drusilla looky likey to remind Buffy she wasn't always the love of his life...

You will let Susan massage his ego for a while longer, won't you? I have a totally unworthy urge to see Buffy lose many more dinners. *is evol*
I never really thought of Susan as a Drusilla look-alike. I think it's more that she's someone completely different for Spike.

And yes, you are evol! :)

12/12/2007 09:39 pm
Deck the Halls         
OH Buffy found out about Spike and Susan, I wonder what she will do about it. I hope it will get them together soon.
Guess we'll have to wait and see...

12/12/2007 05:46 pm
Deck the Halls         
I have to say, that in this chapter Susan earned a few points. She was very nice to Spike, she told him he's not a freak and that Buffy's an idiot - and who doesn't agree with that? I'm actually starting to like her so I hope that she's really not interested in serious relationship with him, 'cos suddenly I don't wanna see her hurt.

And Buffy? "Somehow, the idea of Spike dating someone else had never occurred to her." Oh, it's so like her.

Waiting for the next update!
Yay! Even though I seem to mostly use my OCs as wedges to drive apart the Spuffy, pretty much universally making them objects of hate, I do actually like them. And I like when other people like them. :) Thanks for the review!

12/12/2007 03:47 pm
Deck the Halls         
And is starts...

Poor Buff. Poor Jacob too.
Thanks for the review!

Joan
12/12/2007 03:46 pm
Deck the Halls         
What a great story (although I'm actively scrubbing mental pictures from my brain as I write.) My heart goes out to both - Spike because it seems he's given up and Buffy because she's such an emotional mess. I feel sadder for her though because, whether or not she knows yet that she wants him, discovering that the man who claimed to love her has been having sex with her coworker for awhile now is going to send her fragile self-concept plummeting. If that were me, I be high-tailing it to Jacob for serious validation. I'm anxious to see how you will get them through this. And will I have to skim through many scenes to come? Sorry... babbling...
Heh, thanks. Probably not too many brain-scrubbing scenes after this. :) Though you're not wrong about Buffy...

12/12/2007 12:39 pm
Deck the Halls         
I am LOVING this fic. More soon please?
Thanks! And since it's getting written pretty easily, I can say yes, more soon. :)

kim
12/12/2007 10:12 am
Deck the Halls         
“You’re not the freak she makes you think you are,” Susan said, sitting back and sliding down onto his hardened cock. Spike closed his eyes, and a moan escaped his lips as she began to ride him, running her hands over his chest. “Girl doesn’t know what normal is.” She gasped as Spike clutched her hips and arched up into her. “And thank God for that.”

Love that!

it’s like Attack of the Demented Elves around here.”

Love this more.

Ewww, vomit, Buffy and Jacob are so sappy. :P

Oh! YES! She just found out, and it made her sick! In the "I don't want it to be true way"! Ha, ha, payback's a bitch....

(That wasn't very nice of me, was it...well, serves her right for all the yo-yo-ing she did to Spike.)


That wasn't very nice, but since you were so nice about the story, I'll let it go. :) Glad you liked it!

Tamara
12/12/2007 06:35 am
Deck the Halls         
And she's so jealous she threw up. Yes!

Not to mention she's learning how much she needs his help.
Hehe, yep. Thanks for the review!

12/12/2007 06:00 am
Deck the Halls         
My Christmas spirit was starting to die an early death, but you managed to resuscitate it with a few demented elves, lots of humor and quite a bit of laughter (on my part). And you made Buffy wretch with jealousy. All in the same chapter. Bloody amazing!
Hee, I'm glad to hear it. No death of Christmas spirit here! Thanks for the review!

12/12/2007 05:43 am
Deck the Halls         
Oh yeah......sick Buffy, how appropriate. See how it feels bitca! Doesn't want him (or so she says) but wants him to want only her.... HUH. YAY Susan who isn't fooling herself but is performing valuable service to Spike in more ways than just the horizontal tango.

Love the decorating scene. Spike fits in so well and Buffy didn't even think to invite Jacob over at all...that says something she should stumble over.

Kathleen
Yeah, I think Spike could benefit from a woman who at least makes him feel appreciated, if not loved. And yeah... Buffy should think about that one. Funny how Jacob keeps trying to get into the family (being nice to Dawn, even though she's a brat to him), and Buffy just completely left him out.

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it.

fangfaceandrea
12/12/2007 05:25 am
Deck the Halls         
nice! guttural reactions
galore! just the way to come out of denial.

Loved what Susan said to Spike too and the whole christmasy bondidng time.

fangfaceandrea
12/12/2007 05:24 am
Deck the Halls         
nice! guttural reactions
galore! just the way to come out of denial.

Loved what Susan said to Spike too and the whole christmasy bondidng time.
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

12/12/2007 03:59 am
Deck the Halls         
Great chapter; totally love the use of the Twelve Pains of Christmas; that's an awesome song! And I'm wondering if Susan isn't the evil one; NO ONE is THAT understanding!!! LOL! Please update again soon; can't wait to see how Buffy deals with her jealousy!
Thanks! I love that song. :) Is Susan evil? Well, we'll have to see... although I don't think she needs to be all that understanding if all she's looking for is sex. She knows it's not going to end with love and puppies, and she doesn't want it to. Which is a good thing, because I don't think Buffy would let it happen... :)

krjemb
12/12/2007 03:49 am
Deck the Halls         
Now Buffy knows how Spike feels. And she was going to let Spike live with her while she dated the other guy too. She's getting what she deserves and then some. How convenient for her to get a boyfriend and still have Spike too. How dare Spike get a life that doesn't revolve around her.
Yeah, living together would never have worked out, and Spike knew that right away. I think Buffy is so used to having Spike as a fixture in her life that she doesn't feel like she needs to question their relationship until something like this happens.

12/21/2009 11:17 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Mentally slapping Jacob here.  He's just too much like Riley.

bynee
12/10/2007 07:51 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
this is so bloody funny.....love the closing line....
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it.

sta
12/10/2007 07:17 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
AAAAAHHH oh I hate angst when the story is not complete! I was really hoping that Buffy would catch enough of a glimpse of him with Susan to inspire a major epiphany on her part BEFORE anything happened. Or that she would see them and they weren't even aware of it and that he wouldn't be able to go through with it at the last minute, but she would have her jealous epiphany anyway. He seemed so shamed that he had betrayed her when Drusilla forced herself on him so I didn't think he would actually sleep around even if it was only fair. I am glad to see the strife between Jacob and Buffy and am enjoying him being jealous of Spike. I love that Dawn is playing him too. I think it was great that Spike was able to somewhat take the high road and still interact with Buffy, in spite of Jacob. It only makes Jacob look bad when is not as tolerant and I liked that. I would also LOVE to have Buffy see an old photo or something of Spike when he was human and have her see some of the same similarities between Jacob's appearance and William's - I would love her to come to her realization that it was these familiar attributes to Spike that led her to feel attracted to and secure with Jacob (because he is just a substitute for Spike who she really wants). - That and some great crisis that makes Spike throw himself into the fire again for her and/or Dawn where Jacob shows no signs of that level of committment. oooooh I am so excited about this story and sooo hope that you can give us some more fabulous chapters this Christmas season...
Gee... sounds like you've got the whole thing planned out. Do you want to write it? :-P

Why Spike went through with it when he was so shamed by what happened with Drusilla - there are a few differences between the two situations. First, Drusilla is not just "another woman" the way Susan is. Drusilla represented Spike's old life, being evil, which he thought he'd left behind. Finding himself still attracted to her feels like a betrayal not just of his love for Buffy, but also of his determination to become a better person, to change and be a man instead of a monster.

Also, Buffy wasn't dating anyone else at the time, so he thought by letting Drusilla do those things he was ruining his chance with Buffy. He figured she wouldn't want him after that. Here, he's already lost Buffy, so what more does he lose by getting his needs satisfied?

Angie
12/10/2007 11:09 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Gotta love Dawn!
She's definitely a Spuffy fan. :)

nmcil
12/10/2007 07:49 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
thanks for the new update -
Thanks, glad you liked it.

12/10/2007 12:32 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Sigh...stupid Buffy to settle for hamburger...even nice better grade hamburger .... while a perfect steak is sizzling just to the side. Hope the hamburer, er Jacob, doesn't decide to stake the steak.

Okay I usually hate Spike with someone else but Buffy SOOOOO deserves it. I think I'd like to see him openly start to see Susan. See how Buffy likes THEM apples.

Kathleen
Apples, steak, hamburger... were you hungry when you wrote this review? LOL!

Anyway, I don't think you're alone in wanting Buffy to get a little taste of her own medicine. :) Thanks for the review!

carryline
12/09/2007 04:51 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Hmm, bad Spike for having a 'shag' with Susan...guess we can't blame the poor guy though. Hope Buffy wakes up soon and realises that Jacob is boring and human. I agree with Dawn- she definitely prefers vampires. Especially Spike-shaped ones! More please!
Just because he's human, it doesn't automatically make him boring. I think Jacob would probably be really good for Buffy, but she'll undoubtedly screw it up. :)

12/09/2007 02:51 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
I kinda feel bad for Jacob; I mean, I want Spuffy as much as the next Spike, but this guy is so terribly normal; he makes Riley look like a superhero. And I don't see Jacob coping too well with the whole Angel factor. Please update again soon, I can't wait to read more!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. And you're right - Jacob is incredibly normal, and he has no idea what he's gotten himself into. But he really does care for Buffy, and so he's trying his best to accept and be accepted into her world.

Or, he's evil. ;)

12/09/2007 12:16 pm
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
“Anyway, Spike is definitely not my ex.”

“Oh.” Jacob paused. “So, you’ve dated other vampires?”

Buffy, you always make things easier, don't you? :) Great chapter.
Hehe, Buffy walked right into that one, didn't she? Dawn set her up nicely. :) Thanks for the review!

Tamara
12/09/2007 10:42 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Jacob may not be evil but he shows the potential to be very Xander like.

Buffy may let her friends control entirely too much of her life but I doubt she'll let Jacob do the same thing on this sort of an relationship.
I don't think Jacob really wants to control her - it definitely is an uncomfortable situation with Spike around, and as her boyfriend, I think Jacob probably has more right to comment on that than her friends do. I think for the most part, he really just has no idea what he's walked into, and he's trying his best to understand it.

12/09/2007 09:52 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Love how Jacob is turning into that jealous, paranoid guy. He's starting to sound a bit like Xander. And that exchange with those 2 and Anya at the Magic box... definitely worthy of much praise!

12/09/2007 09:50 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Love how Jacob is turning into that jealous, paranoid guy. He's starting to sound a bit like Xander. And that exchange with those 2 and Anya at the Magic box... definitely worthy of much praise!
Heh... is it really being paranoid when there actually something to be worried about? ;) I think he's got every reason to be jealous of Spike. And thanks, I'm glad you liked that scene! :)

12/09/2007 06:49 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
er, just wanted to meantion I was referring to detals of the 'sex scene'. Didn't mean that as a slam or anything towards ya...
Nope, I knew what you meant. :)

12/09/2007 06:47 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Dude, I just gotta say, while I do feel bad for the guy, jealous!Spike just cracks me up! And, I'm not afraid to say either, that I feel a bit bad for Buffy too. Yes, she's being stupid and mean to Spike, but I think the poor girl is emotionally & pyschologically *spent* that she jusy doesn't know what she wants, or whats best for her. I also part of the reason she's acting this way, is in the back of her mind she knows just how good it could possibly be with Spike, and it scares the hell out of her. So, when afraid, run!

And btw - I realize we've by no means seen the last of it (I assume) but I feel the need to thank you for the lack of details with Spike/Susan scene. I mean, I understand why you did it, but I just don't need to know *everything*, you know! lol. ;)
Hey! Did you read my upcoming chapters? :-P I think you're spot on as to where Buffy's coming from. And unfortunately for Spike, there's not much he can do but wait for her to figure it out.

I thought that might be the reaction to the OC sex scenes. :) There most likely will be a scene or two with more detail than that, but for the most part, I'm sure readers prefer the "fade to black" method.

time of change
12/09/2007 04:29 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Go, Dawnie!
:) So *this* is how to make Dawn everyone's favorite character.

kim
12/09/2007 03:51 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
Dawn's a little Pandora of info, isn't she? Hee hee hee...

Yup, those post-sex endorphins can fade right quick, Spike.....it can only help the body, not the head. :( But what can he do if Buffy's too afraid?

Though me thinks the lady doth protest too much...
I'm sure no one reading minds what Dawn's doing. ;) And I guess that means Spike will just have to have more sex. :)

fangfaceandrea
12/09/2007 03:24 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
I bow before Dawn and her absolute brilliance.
And It was nice to see Spike with a better mood even if it only lasted for a little while XD
Hee! I think Dawn may end up representing the readers' opinion in this story...

12/09/2007 03:20 am
Tidings of Comfort and Joy         
I loved the chapter even though there was the mention of Spike having a shag. And it was good that Xander told Jacob he was a Vampire. leave it to Xander to tell what Buffy wants after all was it not Xander that told Riley that she is the reason Angel lost is soul and why.
Ha, as much as Xander tries to teach Anya, maybe Buffy needs to have a talk with Xander about "things we don't talk about in front of other people." He's giving away all her secrets! :)

12/21/2009 11:05 pm
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
The nerve of the hussy...

nmcil
12/08/2007 12:56 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
read the other reviews and I would like to add that I would really love to see Spike stay in Sunnydale but mainly for Dawn's behalf and to be a warrior fighting on the side of the Postive Good, be that on the side of the Scoobies or against them if needed. A mature and Spike away from his desparte need for Buffy would be such an interesting character - I should love to see a really good relationship develop between Giles and Spike, two mature, highly intelligent and educated men working together would be wonderful. As much as I am a devoted Buffyholic - a Buffy that goes through some much needed character growth with regards to her perspective of a mature relationship based on acceptance and respect of the other partner would be great.

Now that Buffy has a out for the money help is just one more thing that Spike has to regret - just another thrust against his heart -
Look forward to reading your next update -
Well, Spike will definitely stay in Sunnydale, so you got that part right. The rest of it... I don't know if the "three weeks 'til Christmas" time frame allows for that much maturing. But Spike and Buffy will definitely learn some things about themselves and each other, and they'll be at least one step closer to that maturity.

nmcil
12/08/2007 12:29 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Great to see that you have decided to continue your series - Best of Luck with your work, always good to push yourself and keep on working.

Thanks! I appreciate the support. :) I didn't really like the way I handled the overarching plot, but I figured I needed to wrap it up, at least.

12/07/2007 06:59 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Just figures it would be her. Despite my Spuffy fan nature to be a bit disturbed by the 2 of them with other people I really like how you're writing it. However, I will continue to be optimistic about the eventual outcome of this story. Glad to see updates often!
Yep, it's her. You didn't think we were done with her, just because they abandoned her in the woods, did you? ;) I'm glad you like it, even if I'm disrupting the Spuffy. :)

12/06/2007 10:55 pm
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Oh no what are they going to do. Dawn in Mad, Spike is mad and going to use Susan becauseof it and Buffy is using Jacob.
I don't know, I don't think Susan would let herself be used that easily. And I also don't think Buffy is using Jacob - she genuinely likes him.

fangfaceandrea
12/06/2007 09:41 pm
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Ohh please just tell me you're not one of those who wont let Spike shag anyone who's not Buffy. Not that I want to, you know, ruin the spuffy, just that he really really needs to be focusing in someone else for a while.
Nope, not one of those people. I wouldn't tempt him like that if he wasn't allowed to have some fun. :)

desertrose
12/06/2007 02:53 pm
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Wow isn't this both lovely and painful? Yikes!And just adding to the chorus here but...poor Spike.

So about Jacob, yep evil. About Susan, kinda skanky move that one. Any self-preserving girl knows you don't move in on a mess like that. (even if he is that hot) I mean hello disaster much?
Oh, I think Susan knows exactly what she's doing. :) She's a smart reporter, and she can read people very well. Thanks for the review!

carryline
12/06/2007 11:04 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Once again, great stuff! Want to slap Buffy for flaunting Jacob in front of Spike...but maybe he's gonna do some of his own flaunting back. Update soon!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

12/06/2007 10:52 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
I knew it, I just knew it! That Susan Rodriguez was just waiting for the right moment.

On the other hand, Buffy's an idiot, so why Susan can't have Spike? Still, something tells me that Buffy is like this dog with a bone - she won't have it herself, but she won't let anyone near it, too. Spike. Her bone. Susan, better drop it.

And Jacob? Oh, he's so sweet. And nice. And really good to Buffy...

I bet he's evil.

12/06/2007 10:50 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
I knew it, I just knew it! That Susan Rodriguez was just waiting for the right moment.

On the other hand, Buffy's an idiot, so why Susan can't have Spike? Still, something tells me that Buffy is like this dog with a bone - she won't have it herself, but she won't let anyone near it, too. Spike. Her bone. Susan, better drop it.

And Jacob? Oh, he's so sweet. And nice. And really good to Buffy...

I bet he's evil.
Yep, sounds like you know Buffy pretty well. :) Wonder if Spike will have something to say about things if Buffy gets possessive. And yeah, everybody thinks Jacob is evil. :-P

12/06/2007 06:28 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
So, in your unverse is Susan fighting off the blood cravings or is this before she met Harry?
Susan is fully human. In fact, prior to meeting Buffy, she had no experience with vampires or demons. In Other Things, she had to ask Spike if the legends about vampires were true.

I don't really think of it as being a crossover or part of the Dresden universe, I'm just borrowing the character and using her for my own purposes. But if you want to imagine that after this, Susan moved to Chicago and met Harry, I guess you could.

12/06/2007 05:12 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Why am I nervous about Susan coming on to Spike.

You know....Buffy realizes that Spike truly does love her. I think she should see how hurtful she is being to him by drawing him close only to reject him beyond a point. If she really will not consider letting herself care for him she should suggest he leave town for his own emotional sake. To accept him and his devotion but demand it only be as "best friends" is to ignore the pain inflicted on him. It is painful just to read! *G* I can so feel his hurt.

Jacob seems just fine but I am hoping he turns out to be another big mistake on her part.

Kathleen
I don't know... do you think Spike would really leave? He's stayed through everything else, I think he'd rather suffer through it than not see her at all.

krjemb
12/06/2007 04:17 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
So ticked at Buffy. There are no words for how grr I am at her for the way she's treating Spike.
She does seem to inspire that response.

Tamara
12/06/2007 04:13 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
I'm one of the ones that hopes Jacob is evil. I also want something to happen or nearly happen to Dawn because of it and Spike being all protective of Dawn and not letting Buffy near her because he blames Buffy for it.
Well... maybe *you* should write that story.

kim
12/06/2007 03:39 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Right, Susan....go for it, Spike, if you can stomach being with another girl. Bet he can't go through with sleeping with her unless he's really drunk. :(

Love Dawn for being loyal. I hope she doesn't make it easy on Jacob, considering Buffy's taste in men.

And wow, she doesn't even need Spike's money now..Council came through. He really doesn't seem to be needed at all anymore...*hugs the vampire* Well, except by Dawn.
Oh, I think Dawn will do her teenage duty and make things difficult. :) And yeah, with a Council paycheck, Buffy doesn't need Spike. So, I guess if they're going to get together, it'll have to be because she *wants* to, not because she needs something from him.

12/06/2007 03:37 am
We Were Dreamers Not So Long Ago         
Oh crap; typical man, thinking with the protruding parts of his body!!! Not that I blame him, of course; poor Spikey! And what the hell is Buffy thinking about normal guy?? I think we've already deja'd this vu! Excellent chappie; please update again soon; can't wait to read more!
The difference between Buffy wanting a normal guy now and before is that before, she thought a normal guy could actually make her normal. Now she knows that's not true, but after all she's been through, she wants to pretend.

12/21/2009 10:29 pm
So This is Christmas         
I can take this Jacob nonsense...for now LOL.  Poor Spike!

12/06/2007 06:29 am
So This is Christmas         
I just don't understand why Buffy tries so hard to sabotage her own life.
Because she doesn't know what she wants? I don't think most people her age do - even without the whole "chosen one" deal or being pulled out of heaven to mess with her mind.

12/05/2007 02:29 am
So This is Christmas         
Gaaaa talk about bad timing (and meddling witches!). Poor Spike.

Kathleen
Heh, Willow means well...

12/05/2007 12:21 am
So This is Christmas         
I've been reading those series for last couple of days, wanting to catch up on it. I'm totally in love with it and you may think I'm crazy, but I actually like the idea of Buffy and Spike being with someone else... I think it makes the whole story more complicated. I can't wait to see what will happen - is Spike still going to move in? How will he behave toward Jacob? Because he really wants what's best for Buffy... Oh, just update soon, please!
Nope, I don't think that's crazy at all. :) That's why I wrote it. I like things complicated - it makes the story more interesting. What fun would it be if they just got together with no problem? :)

Veronica
12/04/2007 11:22 pm
So This is Christmas         
Aww. Poor Spike! Always love your stories. can't wait for more!
Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)

12/04/2007 01:30 pm
So This is Christmas         
OH that was interesting, I hope Spike isn't to hurt when he finds she is back with Jacob, and was he not turned.
What do you mean - was who not turned?

carryline
12/04/2007 12:17 pm
So This is Christmas         
Noooo! Bad Buffy! Spike's much nicer than Jacob. Nevertheless, like the work and can't wait to see where you're going to take this
I don't know about that... Jacob seemed like a pretty nice guy the last time we saw him. And "nice" isn't really the word I think of to describe Spike. ;)

12/04/2007 11:29 am
So This is Christmas         
Oh Poor Spike. Somehow I feel that Jacob is not gonna be OK with the Slayer thing and that he only wants the girl-Buffy...
I don't know... Jacob may surprise you. :)

LC
12/04/2007 11:20 am
So This is Christmas         
Please keep this up! I love the series
Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

12/04/2007 06:45 am
So This is Christmas         
Ok, so I'm still ok and still along for the ride. That wasn't really anything I hadn't expected. I think bringing in someone from Buffy's past was really the only way to do this especially since she probably wouldn't really be looking for anyone new with Spike around so much. New chapter soon please!
Yeah, I'd actually always planned to bring Jacob back. I didn't get much use out of him the first time around. :)

Tamara
12/04/2007 03:56 am
So This is Christmas         
Buffy, you idiot!
That'll show her. :)

kim
12/04/2007 03:30 am
So This is Christmas         
Oh, poor Spike...

And I don't trust Jacob. Dumb Buffy.
Heh, join the club. There are people who haven't trusted Jacob since the beginning. :)

12/04/2007 03:29 am
So This is Christmas         
*Sob!* Poor Spike! And YUCK! Whose this Jacob upstart??? LOL! I know you warned us, but still!!! Please update again soon, can't wait for more! Poor Spike!!!
Jacob was first introduced back in "Love's Bitch," as a friend of Willow's whom she set up with Buffy. Buffy broke it off after two dates because of something Spike said that made her consider her feelings for him. But since that didn't pan out, she's giving Jacob another chance.

12/04/2007 03:15 am
So This is Christmas         
Loving it! :D
Thanks!

12/21/2009 08:41 pm
'Tis the Season         
Great start!  I particularly love the tender interactions. 

12/05/2007 02:22 am
'Tis the Season         
Yes I think he SHOULD move in *G*. Great way to make accepting the money okay and also repair the damage to their relationship too.

Kathleen
Hee, glad you approve of the plan. :)

12/03/2007 09:01 am
'Tis the Season         
I've been with you and this series for a while now so I'm gonna trust you on the temporary OC thing (though it may be a little tough to read). Truthfully, I hope (and suspect) that it is simply a mechanism to get our 2 heroes back on the right track after you so cruelly destroyed the budding relationship with crazy hallucinations. Glad you're soldiering on with this series though and patiently (or almost) waiting for updates!
Actually, it seemed like they were on a pretty good track all on their own, didn't it? With the making up and moving in... oh well. :) Introducing other relationships adds more conflict. But it's also really a way to explore Buffy and Spike's relationship with each other, even if they don't think they have one. ;)

12/02/2007 11:18 pm
'Tis the Season         
OH This is interesting, not sure what I think about the Buffy Spike other.
Well, that's why I put the warning, so you can make your decision. Personally, I prefer conflict and angst to fluffy puppies fic, and that's a good way to introduce it.

carryline
12/02/2007 10:17 pm
'Tis the Season         
As always, love your work. Update soon- can't wait to see what things are like when Spike and Buffy start living together!
Thanks! Although you may be waiting longer than you expect for *that* to happen...

kim
12/02/2007 03:28 am
'Tis the Season         
Hee hee hee....Now, this all looks promising....but I'm wondering where the 'other' comes in. Well, I get it with Buffy, that people will try to set her up or whatever, but I'm really curious about who or why Spike might date if he's living there...

Love the description of the uber-tacky Christmas across the street. :D
Hint: both of the "others" are people we've seen before.

And, frighteningly, the house across the street is based on a couple of real houses on my old street. All of my favorite elements - Winnie the Pooh, the half-blinking reindeer, the lights in the middle of the street - all real holiday traditions in the neighborhood!

12/02/2007 12:25 am
'Tis the Season         
Thanks for starting the next part so soon; hate waiting!!!! Great new chapter; can't wait for more, please update again soon!!!
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it.