I think you handled the return of Riley and his perfect wife well - just enough material.  

 

Oh,my God! I was almost having a heart attack here! There was no way for me to handle an other Buffy betrayal towards Spike! I mean,Riley? Girl's suppossed to be deaf and blind to do such a thing to a man like Spike! But she didn't do it,and I couldn't have been more pleased.
Also "I'm...uh,what time is it?" ,huh? Perfect and I loved it!

Again, liked it better than the original, and yes, I still like Joyce, I kinda sorta like Riley, which I really don't.

very cute chapter - the doctor thing nicely done

I loved Buffy’s reaction to Riley finding her in bed with Spike. It seems that Joyce is really starting to see Buffy and how Buffy sees her future, or lack of one.

excellent read, thank you. i enjoy riley bashing. the indifference buffy projects is far superior to a hit, physical or verbal. the last paragraph shows a slight change in joyce and the last line is just a mom.

I understand how Riley bash-a-thons are tiring. Wayyy more fun than I could have ever expected, but tiring. Considering how much I liked the rest of it (especially Spike's commentary) I think ill find it my heart to forgive the lack of Riley bashing:P Great job, and can't wait for the (perhaps not so) hellish bells:)

I am just glad that Buffy went to Spike and she is not shying away from his feelings. At least Riley and Joyce are seeing what is happening between Buffy and Spike. Just awesome story.

This story just gets better and better.

Actually, I'm glad you didn't have a bash-a-thon. Those have been done to death and Riley just isn't worth the effort. The "recreational" chains, though, were absolutely priceless.

You covered all the main events and avoided any humiliation for our lovers - I really liked the disposable camera reference. A stronger bashing of you-know-who wouldn't have gone amiss, but nicely done.

I don't normally write another review to respond to a response to a previous review I left but I just wanted you to know that Buffy's fear of letting herself love is completely coming through. It doesn't seem like she's being cruel or doesn't love him at all. You said you were trying to convey that she was scared to fall again and you are conveying that. :)

Also, yeah with the riley reply. I get that. So often we make riley more evil than he actually was in canon (although the plastic wood-grain stake I think is a valid reason for people to believe he could go really dark as well as the vamp ho's...but I digress, I totally get what you're saying and his response is believable. :)

awwww...that bit with joyce was very touching....i feel kinda bad for her that she feels she's gonna miss out on so much with buffy...i so loved the way you dealt with this chapter, so much better, the way buffy treated spike when riley showed up, all of it...very well done

Excellent chapter. I thought it was very well done. Recreational chains had me laughing out loud. I gotta wonder though, is Buffy really in denial over her feelings for Spike, or is she really not able to love him in which case...she's being a horrible person and just using him. And if she is just in denial, is she going to wake up on her own or will there be some kind of cathartic event? You're doing real well on season six, will you be continuing this into season 7 as well? Can't wait for more.

A little disappointed that there wasn't any Riley bashing, but he did get to see them together and witness what her true feelings for the vampire really were. Thank you for putting her at the coffe house and not at DMP. I realize that Joss wanted to show how desperate she had become, but I'm glad that you found it wasn't necessary. Want to find out more about the prophecy. The wedding should be interesting. Can't wait to see how it's going to be changed considering that Buffy and Spike are going together to begin with. Will Xander leave Anya at the alter again? What about the man that Anya exacted vengeance on? Can't wait, soeey you had such a hard time with this chapter but you did a great job. Thanks for the read.

“Oh, uh, no.” Buffy turned crimson. “Those are just… recreational.”

Yes, delicious was indeed the word.

Heeeee! If I didn't love this story before....

This was a really great chapter. I liked though that Riley's discussion with Joyce was cut off...that she didn't say anything negative about spike. I wonder why Riley's reaction wasn't a little stronger, but the chapter is really good.

I did LOVE though Buffy's reaction when Riley caught them. She didn't act ashamed to be with Spike and she didn't punch him...she was all like: "um...why are you here?" lmao. And also her blushing when she said the chains were recreational. LMAO...like riley somehow thought she was taking some kind of safety precaution in bed with spike hahahahaha.


i really like the beginning part in the coffee shop. Question...her thoughts...were these imagined conversations or actual conversations that she'd had that she was rethinking?

I also loved you using the chains. You write fanfastic, evocative sex scenes that are not gross, overly described and squicky. And they are really honest sex scenes, something which I really admire in a writer.

I like that she's falling in love with spike and everyone knows it but her, and at least she's being civil to him and not abusing him like on the show. Really great chapter, it made me smile and think "awwww" like a dozen times lol.

No, it was good. Hit a lot of the notes needed in the story right now.
And Riley was extra perceptive. How about that? Still, if anyone would know if a girl's in love with her current, it'd be her former. The boy was never dumb, though...that snipe at Xander was unexpected, but a cool way to address the issue. It was more in the past for this Xander, though. I think.

Joyce is catching on...picking her battles. Very good. She's right to worry about Buffy's resignation to death, though. The girl never focused on life. She made things so much harder than they had to be. At least Spike isn't getting so much of the short end of the stick anymore. Quite a change over canon.

And we have the First coming up early. Advance warnings. Good to be mindful of the future before the lull of summer on the Hellmouth breeds complacency.

Willow's doing better still...teetering on the line, but still holding, even with the ouch of Tara backing off again. Tara's a smart one, though - it's good to be cautious until Willow realizes why she needs to handle magic differently.

I like this version of As You Were MUCH better.

I like how she questions Riley instead of blindly accepting what he. I mean, Spike being an international arms dealer with no phone and never leaving Sunnydale ? That had plot holes big enough to drive a semi through.

I loved Buffy being casually in bed with Spike when Riley showed up. It was just so cute! :)

I was happy that Xander called Riley on some of his behavior. But I was hoping for a bit more. At least a punch to the face. ; ) But I am glad that Buffy wasn't ashamed of her relationship with Spike. Looking forward to the wedding. Can't wait for more.