ThiS turn of events I don't buy. Why would Angel not want Buffy? And refer to her as the Slayer.

Arrrrrgh! I just want Buffy to trust Spike asap. I know it's unrealistic! But geez, confused seems to be the word to sum everyone at Giles! And whats the future! Can't wait!

feel extremely sorry for red. understand her lack of sympathy for Buffy's 'he has his soul now argument.' (can't believe even buffy is that dense.) who will have to die before they start listening to spike? very good read, thank you.

I agree with you! Angel/Angelus bah humbug. A very interesting look at a self-centered mind, in either incarnation.

I know that Buffy is in love with Angel but someone needs to set her straight about how Angel lost his soul. Jenny needs to come clean. Hopefully Spike's visions will be insightful. Good chapter.

I think what I love most about this story is how complex you've made it, with so many deep emotional triggers--Willow's traumatizing experience with Angelus, Buffy's wrenching confusion, the terrible burden of knowing the future that's been thrust on Spike, and of course Angel, who's going down such a different path in this story. All these interconnecting lines of pain and confusion and suspicion...I can't wait to see where they go!

Mixed messages indeed. They need to listen to Spike where Angel/Angelus is concerned. I think Giles might well be inclined to listen for once (and Jenny as well).

Poor Willow...as usual, Buffy's boyfriend comes first. Good for Giles laying it on the line that way and also for refusing to admit Angel!! Love a smart Giles.

Have a bad feeling Spike will be in Angel's hands soon and Buffy will see just how "us" "Angel" can be!

Really love this universe where a young and able to learn Buffy is going to be forced to face truth not propaganda and Angel's self serving lies that crippled her on the show.

I had typed a much better review earlier but the computer fouled up and ate it....sigh...


Kathleen

Well, Angel's sure got Humanity down pat now. As people have said so many times, souls don't make you good.
I wonder how Angel would have felt if Buffy hadn't sent him to that hell dimension in canon - Maybe that's what actually led him back to the white hat side - the punishment and torment. I always thought that experience should have had a bit more of a lasting effect, though.

Thank god for Giles!

Oh, yeah. Everything's just rosy in Sunnydale.

Somehow through all of this, I still worry about Willow the most. She's got a realpotential at this point to turn that pain, anger, and self-loathing into something dark and use it against anyone who happens to first provoke it.

Or maybe I'm borrowing trouble.

Typical Angel. Just as self-absorbed as ever.

Angel always had Liam's soul, but where with the first time, he was horrified by all he'd done, this time, it's like he's Liam pre-turning. The Powers are playing at something, because somethin' got screwed up there. Further, Angel doesn't have the immediate trip to hell to reinforce that he should pay....though really, after that long, I would have imagined him to be pretty mad at Buffy, not just feral.

And what kind of future did Spike see....how much does it follow or differ from canon....?

And poor Willow....she needs girl solidarity, and Buffy's the last to jump on board the Willow-has-the-right-to-be-scared train. But it's par for the course that Buffy is focused on her own issues first - she always was.

Oh, and Buffy's a total tard- she's all "chillax, Willow. He's just wearing the face of the guy who sexually assaulted you." Xander's reaction was spot on- let us not forget when he threatened to kill Buffy should anything happen to Willow due to Buffy's negligence in "When She Was Bad." This chapter could've been named "When She Was Delusional." And taking Giles' side when he said the same thing as Spike, but he gets hit in the face. Typical Buffy ;)

Hmm... Angel's reaction mos def seems reasonable. He hasn't been to hell in this universe, and what good does remorse do when feeling free without consequence is so fresh in his mind? And the tasting redemption through Buffy's virginity not being all it's cracked up to be makes sense too- I think that in the series, had Angel had sex with Faith (before she turned into a killer), who clearly wasn't innocent, his soul would have still been there. I think Darla said something about Buffy being "fresh," and that was all it was. Ha, ha. The lines are grayer than ever now- can't wait to see what Angelus, I mean "dark Angel" does :D Good and evil is all relative- presence of soul or not.

Yup, he got Liam's soul back. Can't wait to see how Buffy's going to take the news. Can't Jenny tell that he no longer has his cursed soul? Where is Spike going to stay now? With Dru? Not with Angel there. Very exciting turn of events DOS. Looking forward to seeing where you take this. Great work, thanks.

You do a great job of catching the conflict between Buffy's emotions ("my darling Angel is back!"; "I don't have to be tormented by the guilt of having screwed the soul out of him") and the demands of her job as a Slayer (might want to listen to what Spike has to say before letting Angel waltz back in) and her need to be attentive to Willow's very real issues about this. BTW, this last was dead on -- I think you catch Buffy's tendency to attend to her own concerns first quite well.

Your newly ensouled Angel is ominous -- but it's plain he's headed for villainy, and you aren't (so far) treating this with the same nuance you are giving to the other characters. I only mention because it stands out a bit against the background of the highly interesting mix of emotions and motives you have going on with the rest of the characters.

That (small) quibble notwithstanding, this is shaping up to be a really interesting story. I look forward to seeing how it unfolds! Thanks!!!

I wonder how long it will take Buffy to realize that, "Gee, Spike with a soul is exactly like Spike without a soul. I wonder what that means for Angel."

Of course, she won't admit that it makes a difference...personally, i hope Spike drops the bomb that she becomes an abuser in the future, and gives graphic detail of how she beats him up...and how her mindgames rival Angelus.

Hell, I have the perfect line: "You know, maybe I was wrong about you and Angelus being together: both of you love the same bloody mindgames, both love to hit and run, and both of ya are bloody cowards."

Heeeey, you hit Spike... he was being good!

ohboy...

and once again spike is proven correct... angel = angelus *smirk*


wonder who captain forehead is gonna kill....

Great chapter... MORE!