I read this such a long time ago - loved reading it again.  I've loved all the other works I've read as well.  

What a delightful story! Your writing makes me so happy😊. Can't wait to read the next one! Who needs sleep when I haven't read all of your stories? Thank you for sharing your talent, it is so appreciated.

I'm having such a good time reading your works - love your treatment for the Buffy resurrection story. 

I loved this - great variation of the resurrection. 

Wonderful ending to a wonderfully written story.  Thanks for sharing!

Been reading some of your work - enjoying it very much and looking forward to reading more.

A lovely, touching tale. 

Thank you for sharing your talent.

Peace,

Blue
http://www.tthfanfic.org/authors.php?no=12717&list=profile

You ended this at just the right point instead of drawing it out and not knowing when to end.  You get better and better each fic.

And BTW, I happen to be a fan of Buffy St. Marie.  She was a much better singer than Joan Baez.

Lovely wrap up to the story. . . but that's not the end, is it?  LOL  I see you've already started posting the sequel.  I've always thought that the story of them getting together was only part of the adventure.  The real test was them staying togehter, and what effects that had on their other relationships.  And how they tackled both her slaying and his vampirism.  That's the real story.   Getting together is easy.  Staying together and making it work is hard. 

I thought I would read some more of your work since I enjoyed Destroying Entropy so much. You put such an interesting twist on things. I enjoyed it immensely.

really like this reminds me why i hate xander and willow

I love this story. Both cried and laughed.

Thoroughly enjoyable fic, great fun from start to finish.

lovely ending - thanks for the great read.

Oh...that was so sweet, so beautiful. Oh wait, it's over? Noooooooooo.... OK that was the perfect ending, great job.

This have been great, Buffys time as a ghost made her see Spike as a good person and made her see the problems with the Scoobies. It was nice to see their relationship evolve, and the ending felt good.

I like that description of the claim.  So often the trope is reduced to "they bit, they came, they turned psychic" without much in the way of the impact such a huge mental and emotional change would carry.

Beautiful chapter.  They both deserve this

Just simply beautiful!

Yep, PTSD compounded by her own insecurities and abandonment issues.  It's a wonder the girl recovered at all.  Very nice scenes between them.

Good writing on their feelings and voices, and a claim is good too.

Might wanna tell Xander about the claim before he stakes Spike, or tries to anyway. This is full of twists and turns, love it!

Wonderful everything is coming together.  Cute chapter

While Spike wouldn't label them, Buffy's emotions and the extremes they are running to are a clear indication of PTSD.  Actually, it's doubtful any of them would be able to spot them, since no one did on the show.  Had Giles been a bit less self-absorbed, he might have picked up on that, but no, he was hell bent on returning to England so he didn't have to deal with Buffy's death and subsequent resurrection.

Things are going nicely, just hope that Spiike can control himself, he was worried.

Yay everything went well! Time to sneak in some love before they don't have the house to themselves anymore...

Loved this chapter.  This is a beautiful line: “I’ve never had anyone in my life who was such a… a partner. Not just a friend, or a mentor, or a boyfriend but an equal partner.”
 

And with all that in this chapter, here I sit wondering about those pictures. . .

Nice interaction.

words went out the window for the rest of the evening - loved that turn of phrase. Let's hope Xander has learned a very hard lesson, and mmm Spike in black silk, night!

Wow great update, loved seeing Xander get his comeuppance, which was so well deserved. Love this no no nonsense Buffy, so much more satisfying than canon. Looking forward to more.

*sigh* Oh, Xander.  What. A dumb. Fuck.

Ahhhh....Xander is such an idiot!  Running to the next chapter!

I hate Xander!!!

What fools these mortals be. . . idiot.  And, you know, I never understood by what right any of the scoobies had to judge Buffy's love life, most especially Xander.  They treated his demonic attraction like a joke, but Buffy wasn't allowed to be attracted to Spike? 

What a great story! I can't wait for more!

okay, first you read my mind, mmm spooning with Spike, then you pick one of my favourite Billy Idol songs for the dance! What a great cliffhanging ending, did the idiot Xander get Buffy or Spike or neither? Oh also glad that Tara is now trying to help out, and it sounds like Anya is getting a bit more sense as well, I really love reading this at night it so gives me my Spike fix.

I can actually totally see that happening. Xander so focused on his hatred for Spike that he goes off the deep end while "meaning well". Brilliant. Looking forward to more. If you're taking bets, I'm betting the crossbow bolt is going into Buffy!

I think she should have come up with a better explanation for the money. "Anonymous benefactor" just sounds too suspicious. Something like, "I had an inheritance from my grandfather and/or grandmother that was supposed to be held until my 21st birthday, but my dad pulled some strings to get the funds released early because of my situation." would have sounded alot more plausible.

*standing ovation*

Another amazing chapter!  Loved this line: Of course. Gotta have the male elks bashing their antlers together over who gets to mate with me. I knew something was missing in the whole pile of stress.  You hit the nail on the head with that one!

Figures that they would call Angel. . . ugh.  Not gonna say anymore about that, except I loved how she told him off. . .  and the ending of this chapter?  Guh.

Super update, glad Spike got to hear  Buffy telling Angel off good and proper. Looking forward to more.
 

just caught up with chapters 12-14, been away for Easter, but what a great read to come back to. Yay, Spike did have money hidden away, Xander behaved just as he would - like an idiot and contacted Angel, who of course was the pompous twit he turned into. Why did no-one point out on the show that everyone was forgiven for what they had done in the past but not Spike? So glad you had Buffy make this point.  Thanks for sharing your writing skills with us.

This felt nice, the talk with Dawn went well and things seems good. Buffy didn't like that Angel was told, but to be fair, he should know. I like how Buffy handled his phonecall though.

Fantastic! I loved it, thank you.

I thought for sure when Buffy heard Angel's voice she would crumb, but she  didn't which is good. Not surprised by Angel or Zander. Good update.

I love your Buffy. So much more realistic than the season 6 Buffy on the show.  More please

Love how everything is coming together for our two favorite blonds

Loving this really appreciative reaction from Buffy!

One minor issue -- Dawn has blue eyes.  Otherwise, this one is solid.  I've often thought Spike had to have stashed some funds. . . because he's not a terribly stupid man and if he managed to come across a huge sum, he'd find some way to hoard it safely.

Text

Great talk with Dawn and really good that Buffy told Spike. I wonder how she will explaine where the mony came from to social service?

Completely appropriate rage, given the circumstances.  And you know, I never really thought about it (even though I've been reading a TON of Dresden Files lately), but Willow really did violate her, in several ways, taking away her free will and so on.

Always Willow with the magics making things worse not better

I really can't believe the nerve of Willow after what she did initially.  Guess it's a case of if it didn't work to her satisfaction, it must be because she didn't do more of it...  This is a really intriguing tale and I am loving every word!

I think I would've been egging Buffy on, not trying to stop her.  Willow's biggest sin in season 6 was her hubris.  She thought she was better, smarter, and that her world view was the correct one.  Fool.

Wow im so in love with this fic i really hope you intend to finish it cause i would love to see how it ends.

Of course Willow had to do something, hopefully Buffys reaction will keep her from trying again. Buffys and Spikes relationship seems to have a real chance though, that's good.

Can't say I blame Buffy for taking a shot at Willow a coma.

I have to admit I had my fingers crossed Buffy would strangle Willow, but shaking her like a tree and tackling her is just as well. I can just picture her whining in my head. Hope she got the message. Poor Dawn, what a rollercoaster ride for her. Great updates, thanks!

Amazing chapter! 

Ah. . . lovely bits at the end there.

Good chapter, but I don't think Willow is finished.

perfect - just what is needed after a day at the office, may have some interesting dreams tonight!

Tired Buffy dealing with Giles sounds so ... correct.  And I do wonder what Spike is thinking of.  I don't *think* it's the Amara treasure, but... never know till I get to Chapter 11!

I'll say it again....GO Buffy!  I'm glad Buffy laid everything on the line with Giles, including her disappointment he left Dawn behind.

Couple of lines that I've loved. . . "misplaced angel"  and, I'm pretty sure that was the case -- there's the symbolism of when she's first retrurned and on her way through a cemetery and she pauses for a moment in front of a monument and she's got wings -- it was a brief moment in the beginning of season 6, but I'm pretty sure that's one of the things Joss had in mind . . . and "I'm better at the immoral support". . .
LOL.  No doubt.  Loved that she told Giles to stay away. . . IMHO he should have just gone, and not come back and frankly, leaving her alone, knowing what had happened?  Poor choice on Giles' part.

Good that Buffy is allowing herself some time to settle and reassess what she needs to do.  No hurry with the smoochie Spuffiness:)

It's good that Buffy is letting Spike help her. The time she spend as a spirit made her see things more clearly.

Ohh poor Buffy but at least being a gosht gave her time to think thingns with a colder head to react better. 

I'm really enjoying this story, and I'll be glad to read more,

I've only just found this story, and I have to say I'm loving it. So glad Buffy is actually seeing Spike and the Scoobies as they truly were at that time and reacting appropriately, which she certainly didn't on the show. Can't wait for the Buffy Dawn reunion and for Dawn to realise that Spike was telling the truth. I wonder what little plan Spike has brewing... he wonders if what's still where? More please...

lovely piece of interaction between Buffy and Spike, glad that Tara is really sorry about everything and that she does become the calming influence that Willow needs. Does our Spikey have hidden wealth somewhere?

Ohhh, looks like Spike's got his own little treasure hidden away somewhere? Loved this chapter, poor Tara, such a sweet girl stuck with a b**** of a girlfriend. I love your Spike in this story!

I'm really enjoying this fic. Buffy's handling of the Scoobs has been masterful. She hasn't doubted herself or over reacted. I like her much better here than I did at the end of season 7. looking forward to more.  

  Lol, this is weirdly very satisfying.

Go Buffy!  Now this is what should have happened in Season 6!

And yet the dweebs still haven't got a clue.  Buffy should've take a two by four to their collective heads.  Or at least a Louisville Slugger.    Poor Spike, though, those burns have got to hurt. 

oh yeah, tell it to them straight - the  Scoobies (especially Xander and  Willow) always seemed to never have to apologise for or be made aware of their failings, so like that Buffy tells them the way it is here. Onward to getting them sorted out, getting Spike and Buffy together and getting Dawn back! As always so very well written.

I really like how Buffy is behaving, that's just great.

Please use the phase "wall of stupidity" I think it's a great name for Zander. Willow missed with resurrection spell, but with the from ghost to solid form her eyes turn black will this lead to badness even though Buffy said no spells?

I like this version of Buffy & the Scoobies: we thought you where in hell, we just wanted you back, I'm sorry, & and the be glad we saved you is not workking for them. Good chapter

I love it when Buffy kicks her so-called friends' asses for yanking her out of heaven. Can't wait for her to see Dawn, or should I say, for Dawn to see her! And I love her relationship with Spike.

I love the way you write pissed-off, take-charge Buffy standing up to the Scoobies.  It's GLORIOUS.

stupid Scoobies! I'm so glad Buffy chose not to go.

I think I must have read this chapter a dozen times already.  There isn't one note wrong.  Everything is just. . . perfect.

what a great chapter, loved the descriptions of Spike using the cross, bible etc even though it was painful for him, and then the drama of the Scoobies arriving - fabulous. So glad that Buffy now wants to stay, hope she gives the Scoobies more hell for thinking that she was in a hell dimension ( they really should have suffered more for their arrogance).

I was scared there for a second, that she was really gonna go back to heaven and pouf, fic over. Love where this is going! Thanks.

This is a great story, this last chapter was very intense and emotional. Buffy want to live again and won't take any shit from the Scoobies, thats good.

Fabulous chapter!   Buffy is on the warpath now.  And she really sees Spike - what kind of man he is.

wonderful moment shared between Buffy and Spike

Yep, their abject fear of Spike going bad again was, at best irritating, and at worst?  Completely contradictory.  And rather displaced.  Yeah, Spike was evil and he disliked them for the most part, but had they just watched him for more than three minutes with their eyes and minds open, they would've realized that he wouldn't hurt them.  Tease and irritate, yes, but hurt?  No.

i'm very intrigued by this! and can things get worse for spike?? the scoobies - even tara, which is surprising - are treating him worse, if that's a possibility.  the more he tries, the worse they treat him. and i wonder when buffy will realize it was willow who did this to her? will she tell spike or not? very entrancing story, and i'm so very much looking forward to more!

Love it when I log on and there is an update waiting for me. Now I am worried about Spike, will Willow do some spell and mess things up, will he manage the spell himself and will he stake himself!  Loving this fic, more please.

Really enjoying the story I feel for Buffy,Spike, & Dawn. The scoobies are just been plain stupid (they are the problem). Can't wait for more like what happen with Dawn she really is lost without Buffy and Spike try, but he blocked by the a wall of stupidity.

Good Willow stuff

The Scoobies always seemed to look in the wrong place.  They're seatbelts have them strapped too tightly on the "We hate Spike bus" they don't even see what's right in front of them

Spike's on the right track, but. . .

How many times can I say that Willow and Xander are dense without it sounding redundant? 

Buffy definitely needs some ghostly abilities.  She should at least be able to scare these goofs half to death.

yep so now they disinvite Spike, oh I hope they need him and he can't get in!  I want to throw things at the scoobies as well.

I want to start off and say I love your stories, truly. However, I have trouble with the scene you write about with the social worker assessing Dawn’s home environment, I myself am a social worker and while I do not work at a school ( or with children) I do know some of DHS’s protocols and the NASW’s Social work Code of Ethics that all social workers need to adhere to or face losing their practicing license. I would like to point out just some of the things that make me hesitate about the social worker and her practices you depict in this chapter.

The main thing that motivates me to write you is that children are only removed from the home after a first visit when they are in immediate danger in the environment whether this be from the house itself (it’s in such bad shape it needs to be condemned) or from the actions (nor neglect) of  the people residing the home... I know the focus for many social workers is to keep families together. I know that in the history of social work this has not always been the case but practices now dictate that we do everything in our power to preserve natural support systems in the client’s life.
 
Yes, I will say that not having food in the house is a bit of a red flag but that is not enough reason to take a child out of a home. In this case the social worker would provide information how to apply for food stamps or where the food banks are in the area for emergency situations and how to get Dawn reduced/free lunch and breakfast at school. The situation would have been monitored though other visits to the house. 

The dirty dishes wouldn’t have even been a blip on the radar, seriously. It’s when there are last week’s dishes piling up so much you wouldn’t be able to prepare any other meals (the smell would be awful too) that this becomes a warning flag that the family might need help but it’s not enough to take a child away from the home.

Next on my list of things to rant about are those “unsavory books” the case worker found. Again, this might have been a problem a few decades back but social workers are supposed to practice personal value suspension when working with a client
(basically that means my values on what is “right and wrong” are thrown out the window, I am not going to be forcing my values onto a client.) In the end it doesnt matter why the books were there, Buffy/Willow could have said that she was a practiceing wiccan and the case worker shouldnt have batted an eyelash becuase its not the workers job to worry about what that kind of thing.

Speaking of offering help for the family; when counseling came up I perceived the workers comment as if she expected Buffy/Willow to have already known that Dawn needed grief counseling (This is just how I read it, I could be totally off !!).  While it needs to be asked if Dawn is getting any counseling, most workers know there are many stigmas for getting any sort of help like counseling so they tend to proceed with caution while asking in order to not make families feel worse (usually if you have a case worker enter your home the situation is bad enough that your probably not thinking many happy thoughts about yourself as is).

Okay, there are a few more things on my list but as I am writing I notice that I am nit-picking at the minor things so I’ll stop for now. I would like to mention that I haven’t read the rest of this story so what I am writing about is just my initial reactions to this chapter and a fully intend to read the rest to find out what happens (I really love your writing style).

And I should note that maybe you wanted the social worker to over react to what was going on in the house, maybe that is the personality of this particular worker to fly over the handle over small things, maybe she is burnt out over having to far many cases for too long to the point she is sloppy and apathetic towards the Summer family.  The point I am trying to make is that I plan on continuing to read and find out.

Love how Buffy was pissed at Willow.  That was the one, on the list of many, reason why Joss' world bugged me.  Buffy never laid fault where fault needed to be. 

There were moments, sprinkled throughout the series, when Xander was actually a half-way decent person.  They were so few and far between that itwas an exercise in futility to find them.  But they did exist.  And it sometimes gave me hope for him.  But Alas, that hope was dashed, time and again.  And I still stand by my opinion about Willow.  She's an idiot.

I'm getting angry just reading this!   Very palpable in your writing.

Good twist.  Hope Spike does something outrageous to get Dawn back.  Not that the little twit doesn't deserve it.  :)

always with the magic, great chapter - tension has been raised, Buffy and Spike on the same page, lets hope he can find a way to help her. But now all I have to worry about is if Willow will do something stupid or not. On to the next chapter now. (btw thanks for the mention you made be blush!)

Really good story so far.

I like the turn of events, didn't see that coming, and the "stupid bitches" comment was oh so spot on! So I'm still reading this avidly, thanks.

Interesting twist bringing in "The First."

It's a little touching, Buffy self-involvement.  Touching and grating.  When she believes she's at fault for something it can be grating.  When she thinks bad things happen because of her, it's almost sad, in a way. Poor girl doesn't really get a break.  On the other hand, Willow is an idiot.  She's by far the stupidest smart person I've ever seen.  And maybe if she'd get her head out of her ass for a minute or two and stop trying to cut corners, her spells might actually have the effect they were indended to.  But no, she's too busy interposing her own will and insecurities for that to happen.  What a twit.

This is a very clever conflict but again....poor Spike!

Oh boy - Willow is going to do something really stupid isn't she? 

oh dear lord, they really don't have a clue. I like the way that Buffy is learning all the things that are going on and how Spike is being treated even though he is helping and all. Good chapters, like the way Willow nearly went all dark eyed and that she has now thrown the First into the picture while denying it might have been the spell - but will Buffy find out about the spell?

A wonderfully written emotionally filled chapter.

Like how you incorporated Spike's humanity there, juxtaposed against the dismissal from Xander, who obviously has little to no manners at all.  And Buffy's frustration with her friends is almost palpable.

Yep, ungrateful louts.  Hopefully Spike can remedy this ghastly ghostly situation.

Hmm maybe Dawn being pathetic will make Buffy change her mind.  Good story.

Really enjoying your story thus far, and can't wait for more! What a great point you picked for the AU to begin. Good job writing the whole ensemble. I'm looking forward to your next chapter!

You did a wonderful job capturing Buffy's feelings of being trapped and the Scoobies perception of Spike-only as extra musle

Those with eyes but cannot see, those with ears but cannot hear.  The symbolism of them being so blind and deaf isn't all that subtle, but I don't think that's what you were aiming for anyway.  Lovely bonding between Spike and Buffy.

oh man - Spike just promised to send her back!  Can't believe it.  Good twist.

oh man - Spike just promised to send her back!  Can't believe it.  Good twist.

great chapter - the Scoobies not listening to Spike was spot on; will Spike talk to Dawn or Tara about Buffy's ghost or will he find out that they tried to bring Buffy back? I love it when you keep me guessing about where the plot wil go. Style and standard of writing as excellent as ever.

Amazing start!  Onto the next chapter!

Couple of things you should know.  One, I don't review a story unless I've read it more than once, usually more than two or three times.  Two.  I don't generally review new authors.  Rarely, if ever, actually, unless the story strikes me as. . . well, as if there was some potential for something better than what a whole lot of newbies are posting.  Three.  Not a real big fan of WIPs, unless I know the author.

On the other hand, there's you.  And a couple of other authors, most of whom have become good friends.  This story caught my eye because of the title (I'm a huge fan of the Psychedelic Furs and most especially this song) and I had to read it.  You hit a lot of my buttons with this story -- changing the way Buffy came back in season 6 and what went on between Spike and Buffy and also what happened with the dweebs sorry, the Scoobies.  I'm not a big fan of Willow and Xander and I think they both needed multiple blows to their heads.    I confess to reading this, not once, not twice, but three times and also, going back and reading specific chapters over and over again, waiting for you to update.  And here I sit, finding myself reading this again, for the fourth time (and I never do that with a new story) and I felt I should let you know how I feel about this story, and really all your writings.  Don't worry, I'm going to review as I go along, but I just wanted to let you know what I'm thinking.  I'm really sorry that most of the awards sites are gone, because this one?  Deserves an award.  And if I can find an awards site that's still running, I'm probably going to nominate this story (Just so you know).

Keep up the wonderful storytelling.

Niamh

Poor Spike...grieving plus the added burden of wondering about his sanity. Very well written chapter!

Cool story Meets

this is an interesting take on bargaining, very original, which is much appreciated. Looking forward to more.

great start. loved tara helping out spike. can't wait for spike to realize buffy is really there and the others reaction to him

excellent start - you are spoiling us with a new fic already!  Thanks!

I am already in love with this fic! What a wonderful and interesting premise. Please update soon. 

Good start!   So nice to have a new Spuffy writer aboard.  I look forward to checking BSV for your work.  And now a new story!  Buffy fading in and out from Spike's view makes it very difficult for Spike.  Makes things more interesting.