"This, Spike thinks, is extraordinary. It's more than that—it's fucking weird and uncanny, and he's starting to wonder if Xander isn't under some kind of spell, or maybe he's The First, somehow come back to try again to ensnare him. Spike grabs Xander's wrist.

"Xander's head whips up, and all of a sudden, he smiles."

********************************************


That passage is one of the creepiest things I have ever read. Thank you for it. :)

I'll also add, just in case you check these pages after such a long, long time, that I think this is a great tale, extremely well told. You've got Spike's inner voice down pat. The progression of incidents is natural. The sharp, slicing way you begin several scenes (such as the one above) is great. The changes in character, the expressive shifts of tone, are brought off perfectly. Xander and Willow, briefly sketched, could have been pulled from the show. Giles attains a tragic dimension, as does Clio, who never appears, and always hovers, over everything in this novella.

Wouldn't change a word of it. Thank you for writing it.

Very sweet, Very real.  Very well written.  I really enjoyed the exploration of their new relationship.  I still feel sad about Clio, however...  but it ended up where they both belonged.

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

You are a beautiful writer & your fiction breaks my heart. You make me love it & go on the ride even when I don't want to, even when it's angsty & painful & our hero & heroine are forced apart. Even when they hate one another & won't speak to each other - because it's always worth the journey in the end. The broken hearts are mended, we've all learned some great truths & I've even heard some poetry along the way. 

I thank you for the great pleasure your stories have brought me over the years. You are an amazing writer, and always worth the journey.

I don't think I can tell you how much I really wanted this story to continue. I couldn't think of much else at work all day. Thank you so very much!

Poor Clio man that shit was sad. A good 1shot but I think Spike shoulda mourned Clio a little bit more and no him being shamed of her or anything cause that was fucked up but still it was good.

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing!

Sure looks like Spike really didn't even respect Cilo here, I really hate that this story is Spuffy which is a suprise to me. I would of much rathered that Spike slapped buffy around a bit and didn't ALWAYS go all soft on her whenever she was around and all teary-eyed.

I am severly dissapointed though I would of loved it if this was earler and spike comes upon buffy being turned and then they got together, but I guess there are too many storys like that. But I really was dissapointed of the Spike you potrayed, I know he still has a soul but soul still has spine. And all buffy had to do was pout, and Spike forgot all about Cilo and went straight back into her bed.

beautifully sad and sweet read, thank you.

thanks for the good read.

I really love this story, for so many reasons. You are able to chart their convoluted path in such a persuasuve manner. And, you give them a happy ending. I loved Clio and was sad and shocked to see her killed, and then awed by the way you've made everything work out, even her death! Great story. Thank you!

well-written. beautiful. you've captured their emotions very well. the doubts, the hesitations, the regrets and the hope for something better. thank you for this fic.

I always loved this story. I remember I was a bit hesitant at first, because of the spike/other warning. And the fact that I never really forgave Spike for not not going to Buffy after he came back and sadly tend to wonder if he really did deserve her. (i know it's not a very popular opinion to have around here) But i really ended up liking this Spike in the end.

I felt bad for Spike AND Buffy when the girl got dusted. Spike just lost the girl so sudden and without warning and how was Buffy to know this completely random vampire was different from the rest? Yes, the girl was sweet, but Spike didn't belong with her. It's just too bad she had to die in order for him to come to his senses and realize that.

And, unlike usual, I really felt Spike AND Buffy deserved each other in the end. :)

Worried about how Spuffyness with that gut wrenching beginning but loved the process. Great fic!

I am totally amazed. This story is so well written. It is beautiful and disturbing and sweet and so much more. The inner life that you have given these characters that we all know so well is beyond any Spuffy I have read before.

I can't even describe how much I love this story. I'm not a good enough writer.

Wow.

wonderful story. amazing piece of work. just perfect. keep on writing! you´re a pro! Wonderful!

Terrific story, and very glad that you posted it all at once because it would have been hard to be forced to stop during the hard parts. Remember reading your fics before, but had forgotten how well you write (or maybe you've gotten even better?) Anyway, didn't know you were still writing/posting new stories, but SO glad you are, and that you chose to put them here.

"It's a shame she made him regret his time with Clio, because if you're happy, you're happy, and you should remember it that way. It's so fleeting, and even rare, at times, and shouldn't be tarnished."

I agree, that part almost made me stop reading. I liked that spike that spike had moved on and found someone, unlike all those other fics where buffy has many relationships while spike just mopes around pining after her.

Other than that, pretty good.

Excellent fic! Loved reading this

Poor Clio got the short end of the stick.

It's a shame she made him regret his time with Clio, because if you're happy, you're happy, and you should remember it that way. It's so fleeting, and even rare, at times, and shouldn't be tarnished.

Buffy was so presumptuous....She should be lucky Spike is...Spike.