Love it so far! Spike was right and wrong in the last chapter. Buffy did try to keep him a secret, but not in the way he thought. But she should have told him WHY she didn't tell anyone she was coming to see him (that Giles knew the whole time and didn't tell her). Instead she made Spike feel just like he always did when he was with her.

Please tell me you have more to post?!

This is a great story! I hope you finish it!

 Oh no! Don't let it end there! So much is happening! 

Aww poor Spikey is so insecure, with good reason I guess...He was pretty easy to convince to go see Buffy, but maybe he had his doubts about his silly decision to break it off with her all along.
Oh noes! And he's going to Rome, where Buffy is not! ...And isn't the fake-Buffy with the Scoobies in ...wherever they were again? Argh the frustration! The angst (-to come)! Encore! Bis!
Please update soon! The wait's killing me *pout*

Sorry for interjecting. To this: > Buffy is an idoit- why would she have not told Spike that that wasn't her in Rome? Don't you think she would have realized that he deserved to know that? Again with Buffy not using her brain. the answer's really obvious. Of course Buffy's an idiot, she always has been an idiot and always will be. But that's not an explanation. The explanation is that she's self-centered and narcissistic. Buffy is not a mentally healthy individual. Never was, never has been, and never will be. OF COURSE she doesn't think of Spike. She's not capable of that (minimal) level of empathy. Incidentally, Buffy would have been pretty off-character if she hadn't created this situation entirely. Which doesn't mean I don't enjoy those fics, it just means they're very off-character. So kudos on keeping Buffy in character. It's even completely in character that Spike confuses love with trust, still. If Spike has a huge blind spot in his empathy, it's about love. What I mean is that his accusation about Buffy not loving him is untrue. As a purely technical matter, Love is Attention, Affection, Allowance, Acceptance and Appreciation. And Buffy is scoring pretty high on all of these in this fic. But Buffy loving Spike is irrelevant. What's relevant is that Spike can never trust Buffy. She will always disappoint or betray him because she isn't mentally healthy. She's scoring really low on the mental health though. Like, no progress at all, zero nada nein, since high school. Damn that's disappointing. And incidentally, this means that if you want to stay consistent with the Gwen theme then Spike *shouldn't* go off after Buffy.

Just one time, just ONE time I'd like to see Buffy or *anyone at all* taking revenge on the Scoobies. Or even acknowledging that they're unwanted or undesirable or that they're in the wrong. Doesn't Buffy ever scream out at Willow for what she's done? Or that hey, she just doesn't trust her? And what's with this crap about Buffy still living in High School? Where her only possible friends are the Scoobies. Like it's High School Forever. Don't these fuckers drift apart? I get that Buffy's got a superiority / inferiority complex, I really do, but doesn't it ever ameliorate? EVER? Like what's with this feeling guilt for not involving Willow in *Buffy's* most personal life decisions? This is fanfic people. Buffy doesn't have to stay as completely immature (egocentric) and fucked up (narcissistic) as Joss Whedon (I suspect he's a psychopath) made her in canon. She can become *a little* better given enough time and life-changing experiences. Like all of her friends kicking her out of her own home after taking it over. It's not a sin to deviate from canon when canon is sick, twisted and repulsive.

 EEHHPEPPEEPPPPPP! That was me squealing with joy, which i actually did! Go get her SPike!! i Need more! :D

Buffy is an idoit- why would she have not told Spike that that wasn't her in Rome? Don't you think she would have realized that he deserved to know that? Again with Buffy not using her brain.
And Spike is totally jumping to conclusions. Okay, I agree with him about standing up to Buffy if she was using him again (something I wished he had done the last two seasons actually), but really...she told ANGEL that she was in love with Spike! That just screams that it's not her dirty little secret anymore.
I swear, between the two of them...lol
There better be some apologizing going on in Romeon both sides, and an explanation from Buffy (pretty please? lol).
And congratulations- you've made me like Connor, which is a miracle. I HATED him on the show. Maybe he's better in the comics, but I've never read them so I can only judge by the show. Oh, but from what I've read of the comics (summeries and all that), you're doing a MUCH better job and making more sense. Go you.
Anyway, great chapter as always. Can't wait until the next.

love it!

and who will he meet in Rome?? Buffy or doubleBuffy?

o no! do not hold them appart by even more misunderstandings.. hm.. actually.. please do! as long as they get their sweet reunion in the end. Love the sweet angsty hurt you put them through..  

I hate Willow, control freak or what. All that crap she spouted then she does nothing to make it right. She acts like Buffy really had just been looking for a dirty weekend and Spike means nothing.  Really thought Buffy had finally got her groove back, but she's just letting them ruin everything again. Good chappie. 

Great chapter.
Boy, Buffy and Spike are like the king/queens of miscommunication.
Can't wait for more (and hopefully happier)!

 Ahhh I am freaking out! Spike and Buffy must be together! ok I'm done now, but seriously that was i really good argument, very true to the characters. And i still can't wait for more!!

GASP! ARGH! Oooh angsty, I love it! :P Please hurry with the next update, I can't wait to see what happens!!

I'm so glad Buffy recognised that she really didn't know Angel any more (did she ever?) and that they'd both moved on. Not happy about that nightmare, though. Hope it wasn't a Slayer dream...

 I am usually not a fan of anything Buffy and Angel, but i really liked their conversation, and Buffy's thoughts on the whole relationshipness! Nice job!

just wanted you to know that I jumped over to your LJ and read the story there - so I have not stopped reading or doing reviews, they are posted at your LJ now.

love what you are doing with this work - thank you so posting the LJ link -

Very nice. I love post-seson finales fics and yours is really good. Congrats.

Stupid humans...... Love the Molotov cocktail bit. Snuggly doped up Buffy is sweet.

 loved it! good action and again awesome spuffy :D

Doped up Buffy can be so fun!
Great chapter.

Really good chapter, great fun.

can't wait to read more!!!

Another great chapter. Can't wait for more.

I was looking for a new story to read, and just read yours start to finish. I have to say as much as I love both the Angel and Buffy comics, i really wish this was how things turned out. Buffy and Spike all couplely! There is nothing better :D can't wait for more!!

Great chapter. Buffy's mind set at the end reminded me of Angel in season two where he lets Darla and Dru eat the lawyers. Which has me hoping next chapter is gonna get all bloody (lol I'm in a horroresque mood).
I wonder who this Slayer is? One we know or a new one?
Can't wait to find out.

This is really dark stuff, but you've described it beautifully. love your writing!

More, more! Now! ..,please?

Really sweet morning after, pity Spkie didn't rub Angel's nose in it.

Nice plot development, eager to hear Christies explanation for her behaviour. I really liked the quiet moments in the beginning of the chapter where Spike was just tanquil and happy.  Good transition with Buffy making a joke about hair coloring!  Very nice story, thank you

Great chapter. It was funny to watch Buffy condem vampires to one girl and yet at the same time defend Spike and Angel to another. 
Can't wait fore more!

Ooohh! Getting good!

 Great chapter. More please.

I'm really loving this fic so far. It's totally cute, and for those of us who only know the bare bones of season 8 and after the fall (I'm a poor university student- I don't have money to buy them. lol) you explain the events surrounding it enough that you're not totally confused.
Good job and can't wait for more!

Mmm.. You have a wonderful mind! Keep writing the story, please?

Loveliest.reunion.ever.  It's so hard to get Post-AtS right without blatantly ignoring canon. I think you're nailing it (no pun intended ;)

Just started reading this fic, and got to say it's damn good.  i lke everything about it so far. This Buffy really seems to love Spike and is prepared to act on it. Loved the reunion too.

loving this story, and really appreciate the timely updates.  The letters were awesome and really true to what Spike might have written, thankyou for the great reads!!

I love your reunion its so beautiful, simple and powerful - I like how you get them together so quickly. 

I am so glad that some of the excellent Fan Fiction writers are starting to do work post NFA and the comic season as well as BtVS comic.  It's really great to have new stories based on the new Buffy and Angel and the characters that have returned from the earlier AtS and the new slayers.

Great that I can go to your LJ and not have to wait -

 Very sweet reunion. Is time for the yelling now?

Excellent - "the ecstasy of a bleeding heart." - 

 Just found this story again and had to tell you how much I love it. I remember reading the first chapter, but I thought it was a one-shot. Delighted to find more. Just like Giles to conceal Spike's existence 'for Buffy's own good'. Can't wait for her confrontation with Angel....

Oh! Please, more! I want the sweet, hurting and wonderful scene where they meet, and a good, long story about Buffy dumping the slayer-general job and joining her love. Please?

Awesome!  I love a cunivingBuffy! lol  I am so looking forward to where this goes.  This is a great story so far.

Poor Buffy with no allies, what will she find in LA...

Now I'm crying. Another betrayal. Why such a long wait before handing it over?

Love this so far.  That was a beautiful letter Spike wrote and I think you captured his voice so well.  Great meeting between Buffy and her decoy.  You also did a great job capturing Buffy's mindset and the place he is in right now.  Looking forward to more!

I think this is a such a good concept and really moving.  I hope you have time to update real soon.

I think this is a such a good concept and really moving.  I hope you have time to updae real soon.

When is Giles going to learn to stop messing with Buffy's love life?

Ooo, Giles is gonna get it!

Wow! That last bit knocked me for a loop. Great set up/timing after the description of Buffy being so tired.

I love this, seriously. Beautifully written. Been looking for post-ats of this nature.... I love the build up you got going.... awesome Spike characterization. Thank you for writing this and keep it coming pretty please!!!!!

Good fic so far.

Personally, I hated the whole "it's a decoy excuse" simply because of the humongous holes in that story. The whole concept of a decoy depends on the real McCoy being OUT OF SIGHT. Buffy still being an active Slayer while a decoy runs around in Rome is like the President visiting tour groups in the White House while his double is off on a diplomatic visit overseas - Pointless and stupid.

I (happily) noticed in chapter 1 that Spike has NOT been "faithfully celibate" to the mere memory of Buffy while she has moved on to other men (or so he thinks).

Honestly, I stop reading fics when that stupid cliche comes into play , especially when an author writes it as if Spike has somehow betrayed Buffy if he doesn't spend months/years/decades alone and miserable until he reunites with Buffy.

Oh - you are bad leaving us here - Looking forward to your next update - I like the voice you have given to Buffy and Spike very much - to me they very much reflect the characters of the series - NICE JOB

I love your ending - and once again - wonderful Spike voice. 

You're writing a wonderfully believable Spike, really well done.

Love the interchange between Spike and Christy.

I love reading letters within stories - Spike's is a wonderful - good voice I can imagine him writing, wanting and not wanting to send it -

Excellent start - hope that you give us regular updates -

Sad and sweet and much more the real Spike than as played on Angel. 

my god you made me cry!!
so so beautiful!!! so powerful!!!
if spike would have ever wrote a letter to buffy that would be it!!
please continue this story it have such a great potential to be a great story

I really think I might cry. I absolutely think this is THE letter Spike would have written Buffy. It's beautiful. I hope this just isn't a one shot, I like to read more of your wonderful words!

This is a very sweet one-off, but I'm even more delighted to see it's not finished!

This is a lovely piece of work... very powerful, very Spike like.  I hope this wil continue into something longer? Sorry to be greedy, but I miss him, and reading really good fan fiction is my solace! Thank you.