I meant to say that I very much apprecitate that you tackled this topic.  Buffy's behavior when she beat Spike and virtually left him for dead was one of the more serious acts of abuse I've seen depicted on screen and the fact that it was administered by a female does not make it any less abusive or any more acceptable.  She was never called on it in the show, and i don't think I"ve ever seen anyone else address it seriously.  Frankly, between what happened in the bathroom (paticularly in context of their relationship) and what she did to Spike that night, there's no contest for which of those is a prosecutable and reprehensible event.  What he did was overreach.  I thought it was wrong, but I didn't think it constituted attempted rape.  Assault yes, but not attempted rape. 

In leaving Spike that night, she could very well have caused his death.  He was in such horrible shape, the first time i saw that episode, I found myself wondering if he was going to dust when the sun came up...  thank you for tackling this.

Peace,

Blue

DeepBlueJoy's stories: http://www.tthfanfic.org/authors.php?no=12717&list=profile

A neat story.  thank you for sharing it with us.

blue

NICE  - Always enjoy reading your works - and reading a piece where Buffy has to learn about herself and how to manage her life without overboard histrionics made for a very good change. 

Plan to read more of your work this week - 

Thanks, I always wanted her to see the horror of her actions and find the strength to change without an apocalypse.  A nice happily ever after...except for Riley, I think everyone secretly hates him. 

Aww - I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

fine end to the tale, with a few points left to explore (sequel.) thanks for the fun read.

That was excellent. I can't wait to read more of your work. Keep up the great writing...Is there a sequel in thoughts?

Jace

The end?!? No! Not the end! I'm suddenly saddened that there will be no more new Buffy living her life the right way. Love the scene at the end with the Summers women and their vampire! It was absolutely perfect and a great ending! Wish we could have seen Buffy tell the Scoobies but still an incredible story!

Oooh, nice ending! Only thing I wish you'd shown was the Sccob's reaction to the relationship; I'd like to see how this new honest Buffy would face up to their censure; maybe a sequel?? LOL! Awesome story, thanks so much!

What a fabulous story you've shared with us. Thank you! If only it could have gone down that way. ~sigh~ ;)

Thanks for writing this story. I am really glad I read it. A coming back to life story was just what I needed right now, and you can't imagine how appropriate.
My fiance had his 16th serious heart attack Monday. Tuesday I was told he'd never leave the hospital alive. He has hung in there like a trooper. He kept saying "Don't worry Baby, it's not my time yet" AND "Do whatever you have to (said to the docs & nurses), I want to LIVE!" And here's the kinda "ironic" thing to this vampire-lovin' gal---he'd been (and still is, but not the same) really weak, and they couldn't keep his BP up, so they gave him 2 units of BLOOD, and he's almost totally acting like his old self! At least w/more energy to heal, talk, stay awake, eat, etc. It's almost like it helped his will to live (I know it just helped w/oxygenated hemaglobin, but hey, see the parallels here). As Spike said, "...it's all about the Blood..."
Thanks for a lovely ending to this story at a really needed time. The fic was enjoyed all along, and well-written.
~~K.~~
~~fyreburned~~
fyreburned@yahoo.com

YAY... happy ending all round. Do wonder what Spike did to Warren though *G*.

Loved the story and Buffy growing up in time.

Kathleen

Nice ending. Makes me smile. :)

I've enjoyed this story so much! Thanks for sharing!