Sure, it wasn't Spuffy, but who cares? It was a fine, dramatic action piece, with good characterization, and a damn good read. :)

that was realy good. you should do dark more often

That was really good. Keep it up!

:-) thanks 

good thing there's a sequel 'coz this is reaaally good!..i'm gonna go read the next one now...:)

Gah! Teh angst, teh angst. *weeps* *eagerly runs off to the second part* LOL!

I am rereading this series since it has been finished in its entirity. I just want you to know how strongly you are able to evoke emotions from simply writing; it truly is impressive. Thank you for this work, and I cannot wait to continue on.

Oh I love it.

That was great! I really didn't think she could kill him but she did. Seeing how caring he was for her and the love that he had for his Drusilla, will no doubt force her to rethink everything Giles had ever told her about vampires, at least this blond vampire, anyway. Good thing the fire destroyed the tape that recorded her attack. Xznder might have kept it to watch, the little perv. Glad you have two more completed fic's to read. I really like it and looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes from here. Thanks sms.

You do realise your stories are getting better and better don't you? I do love a spot of Ripper... and adding Ethan Rayne and Angelus into the mix... inspired. I'm off to find the sequel...

Although this might be the 4th time ive read this story (at various archives) it makes me cry everytime. Great touching story, I am more impressed each time i read it. Good jo.

And this one ended with such a bang. . . . Angel gone, Drusilla gone and Spike alone amid the ruins.

This one hit all the right notes. Well done.

Just wow - even the second time through just wow - incrediable story Patti I am amazed at the tale and emotion you wrought in just five chapters. Looking forward to the sequel greatly~!

So dark, and then quite a quip for an ending. Looking forward to the sequel. So glad she saved him.

What an amazing heartbreaking fic. Although Buffy couldn’t exact more vengeance on Angelus at least she was able to look him in the eye when she staked him, and what a way for Dru to go. I like how Spike continued to protect Buffy’s dignity even after her rescue. Now onto the sequel.

wahoo, now i get to read the first part of the sequel! I loved this fic, but then, I love all of your stuff!!

wahoo, now i get to read the first part of the sequel! I loved this fic, but then, I love all of your stuff!!

wahoo, now i get to read the first part of the sequel! I loved this fic, but then, I love all of your stuff!!

wahoo, now i get to read the first part of the sequel! I loved this fic, but then, I love all of your stuff!!

This is a wonderful, dark story. I look forward to the much Spuffier sequel. Thank you for sharing.

great job, Patti! wonderfully dark fic! Some many emotions for one chapter! And oohhhh sequel! lol

wow...this whole story was incredible and i absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!!!! i can't wait to see what happens next!! the end was heartbreaking, poor spike....fitting end for drusilla, poor mad thing.... and for angelus too, though it could have been a bit more painful ;) great, great story!!!

very good read. glad to see sequel is on the way, this tale screams to be continued. thanks for the read.

Can't wait for the sequel, Patti.

I am very interested in reading the sequel to the story, is it available?

Gotta love Spike for taunting the big guy even as helpless as he is.

What a way to start a truce! Sometimes I forget that Angel never ate any food, I bet it was a bit of a surprise to see that this vamp does. So this is all about Giles, it's going to kill him when he see's the tape. Not looking forward to the next chapter. It's going to shatter her world. Now she get's to see for herself just how differnet this two vampires are. Excellent chapter, thanks.

Ahuh. . I so would have made him stop, just like she did.

I swear, I would. Really.

Not buying it are you?

Didn't think so.

Okay, so I'd never let him stop. . . .

poor spike and buffy - unlikely allies but they will need each other to escape from Angelus and his devious plans. Great update!

Sweet Spike, even if he is trying to disguise it as being completely self serving. A bit of a lighter part to a dark story. Loved it.

Poor Buffy and Spike having no escape from Angelus. I like that Spike realizes that the best way of getting rid of Angelus is Buffy, and the advice and help he is giving her. The chocolate chip cookies were a nice touch. Ethan must really have something against Giles to be getting this much enjoyment out of his pain.

Now how did I miss this one? And damned if i'm glad I did so now I have lots to read!!

excellent update. they are both starting to be confused. thanks fot the read.

More please - I likeee!

Oh my, poor Buffy, loved the spike/buffy interaction during the beginning, and despite the obvious ick factor of what had happened, the last scene was both touching and sexy! great job!

poor buffy. Her life is really sucky right now. And so is Spike's.

poor poor buffy...and spike, too...angelus deserves to suffer and die in agony...awesome story though, just heartbreaking

*grumbles at Giles* He really does need to get a clue.

Uh oh... Ethan. That can't be good.

A trap for Giles no doubt. Stupid, stupid Buffy. Now she'll pay the price as well as her watcher. Didn't think they'd be working together, nice twist. Definately not canon. Excellent read, thanks.

You know, no one has ever explained that little plot glitch in the Whedonverse. If Angel didn't love Buffy without a soul, just how could Spike love Drusilla for a 100+ years. And you can't argue that it wasn't love, because as you've clearly stated here, Spike laid his unlife on the line more than once to save her. . .

I do like Giles' response to her though, when she asks "what's wrong with me?"

growls at ethan - you really know how to write an evil ethan and good giles - excellant portrayal of characters!

Did the child get away? A bit of a mystery I suppose. Poor girl, a dark thing all of Ethan's magic. Great chapter.

I really liked the question Buffy posed to Giles about Spike's ability to love, and although he didn't have a proper response I like how he tried to tell her that Angelus’s reaction to her wasn’t because of her. As for what’s going on with Ethan and Angelus working together, I’m just really glad I don’t have to wait for the next chapter.

ACK!!! I guess this will help Buffy's IQ rise somewhat. Unfortunate it will take such horror for the result. Good to know she's still being fed full of BS by Giles and the Wankers' Council programming. I can tell this is not a nice story but I want more please.

compelling start. looking forward to more. thanks for the fine read

oh god no! *hides eyes again* i'm such a weenie..lol...promises to open eyes for next chapter!

Please, give me more!!!!

oh no.....i hope maybe she and spike can manage to somehow work together to defeat angelus...great, great story so far, loving it :)

Bad Ethan. Bad, Bad Ethan. Great chappy.

Ya know, I love Angelus, but I hate when he heckles my boy. *grumble*

Nope won't take Angelus long at all to fall right back into their familiar family routine. Dru was his and he hated his grandchilde. Very well written. Great chapter, thanks, sms.

Just brimming with sympathy aren't they? From Giles, who is completely ignoring the fact Buffy is only 16 and he's asking her to kill someone she loves to Drusilla, who is ignoring the one person who cared for her for a very long time. Never expected anything resembling sympathy from Angel, so that's just typical behavior from him. Good chapters. . .

And now onward

Poor spike - I know he is tecnhically still evil - but he always felt so much emotion! I love this chapter two and can;t wait to read more.

Poor Spike. Not fun things to bare witness too. Great chapter.

You really did a great job in this chapter of showing Willow's growing attachment to magic, Giles recognizing that he has a responsibility to help her with it (hopefully he will follow through), and after everything Spike has done for Dru, her poor treatment of him.

very good! poor spike! looks at summary 'character death' eck! *hides eyes*...lol

Ugh, Hate Angelus torturing Spike like that, even if Spike is a big bad vampire.

grrr...hate angelus...poor spike...hope he gets better soon...great fic, can't wait for the update!! :)

Was trolling my fic recs and thought, hmmmm, haven't read this in a while. Then I remembered I hadn't read your last part of this yet. So, this is me rereading... and reviewing. ^_~

I look forward to reading another one of your stories.

I can't believe I missed reading this series. Wondering what Ethan want's with Angelus or just want's to wreck havoc on Giles and the scoobies, probably the latter. Young foolish Buffy's going to somethings the hard way, isn't she? Hey, people talk to me and I just turned 55, so age, no biggie here. Great way to start a fic, thanks.

Your Angelus gave me chills. Poor Buffy, having to deal with Angelus and her dense mother. What a lot in life!

I have been remiss. I've been reading this and the sequels and I haven't reviewed. I'm so sorry, because I think between this series and the Bodyguard one, these are some of your best work. I'm so glad you got back in the groove. . . . Thanks for sharing your talent with all of us.

I know I reviewed on lj - but wanted to reread before I read the sequal - this is a great chapter one. i love how joyce is in denial!

Be safe in your denial Joyce. Great beginning.

Joyce really does like living in denial, it seems that Buffy comes by her ability to live there naturally. I sometimes wonder, even after everything Joyce has seen, she continued denying things out of guilt because of her reaction when Buffy first told her about the monsters.

Joyce is in for a rude awakening, isn't she?

Alright, I know I started this one! Great start and if anyone says anything to you about the lack of true spuffy in the first part of the fic, just tell then I said it was ok! *runs to read the next part*

how sad for buffy...wonder if she'll be able to kill angelus?? very good start, reading more now :)

I think that you have hit Joyce right on the head. She had to have ignored a lot, too many wierd things for her not to have noticed! I am surprised that Angel didn't attack Joyce while Buffy wasn't home, or had he just gotten there?

I am really curious as to how Giles seemed to know that Angel was gone. It was a good thing that he did though!

Great chappy!