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Sideways by goldenusagi Thank you for writing an engaging and involving story... uhm, no. thank you for taking over my life for the last few days. I had all sorts of important things I should have been doing... but I was reading your story instead. and enjoying it. Thank you. Blue Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Brit Girl 09/13/2012 01:34 am Epilogue I don't even know if you're on this site any more as I am three years behind in catching this story. I have one word for it....AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for having the talent and imagination for really making it the best story I've read on here so far. I started alphabetically and have come to you. I have commented on a couple of other authors stories which were good but yours is (Weird to say) the most realistic! It made me want to see it made into an episode and I love how Spike was his Season 4 snarky self but without the chip. Thank you. Hi! I'm not really 'on' the site anymore, lol, but I'm still around. I'm glad you liked the story so much! It's nice to know that people are still enjoying it. Thanks for reviewing! I can't think why I've never read this story before. I'm horrified to think I might have totally missed it! Wonderful premise showing Buffy's transformation from shallow valley girl to mature self-confident slayer (without her compulsive desire to mould herself to please the scoobiesand without that self-righteous stake up her arse), and Spike's from amoral mercenary to amoral Slayer's lover who makes compromises but never gives up his sense of self or becomes Buffy's doormat. A much healthier relationship than they had on the show. Wondeful tale. alya 03/27/2011 01:51 am Epilogue Text I have spent all day reading "Sideways" - couldn't tear myself away for long! Loved it. You write beautifully. Thanks. Just as fun the second time. :-) 05/18/2010 02:19 pm Epilogue Thank you! I very much enjoyed reading this story. And I loved the nice quiet, happy ending. :) Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it, and thank you for reading! since i've been sick for the past few days i've decided i'd do some reading.. and good thing i decided to read this one! it was amazing! and i just can't believe it's already over.. <3 Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! 02/16/2010 06:43 pm Epilogue this was amazing read... couldn't stop reading it! love it! thank you for writing it! Thank you! Teegan 11/07/2009 06:07 am Epilogue Great story! Really liked the end =) Thank you! Holy crap, I can't believe it's over! Thanks for taking us on this amazing ride. I can't wait to see what you come out with next. :D Thank you so much! I can't believe it's over, either, LOL. Woo! And also awww. I really like that last line - it could sound cheesy or corny, but it really suits these two very well. Good job - and congrats on finishing your first story! lol Thank you! Took me long enough to finish, LOL. thank you for a very well told tale. happy, and sad, to see it come to a close. Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! this is one of the best stories i've read. thank you for finishing it. i loved every part of it. keep on writing! Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Don't laugh at me, but after I opened up the epilogue, I walked away from my computer and didn't come back for 2 hours to read it. That is because I didn't want to read it knowing that it would then be over forever! I've been checking the site several times a week for well over a year now eagerly anticipating the newest chapters that now that there won't be any, I don't know what to do with myself. :-) Seriously now, your excellent, unique premise caught me at the beginning and the great characterizations and coming to care about them and their relationship kept me going as did your foreshadowing of the conflict with Angelus. You did a marvelous job of keeping Spike as a strong personality who was always his own man instead of a "fool for love" who turned into a wimp for Buffy like so many writers make him. And you did a super job showing Buffy's growth from an innocent girl bewildered by kidnappers to the strong slayer she became...not to mention the growth of the Spuffy relationship. Thanks for sharing your imagination and writing talents with us! Aw, I won't laugh, LOL. But why is everyone so sad it's over? It couldn't go on forever! :) But thank you so much for all the compliments! One thing I really liked about writing this was the journey that Buffy went on from girl to Slayer. And I do like having Spike being totally in love with Buffy but still being his own person. I'm glad you enjoyed the story so much, and thanks for reviewing! SpaceLord 09/14/2009 03:31 pm Epilogue Thx for a great story, original but still keeping the characters intact is a hard number to manage but you did it really well. Thank you so much! I'm flattered you think so! *sniff* It's over. It's been great, and I love the domestic, hopeful ending. Great job. *virtual pat on the back* You have a gift, and thank you for sharing it with us. Thank you so much! And I'm glad you liked the ending! KittyVamp 09/14/2009 01:03 am Epilogue Such a great story i like the long ones Thank you! Niori 09/13/2009 11:57 pm Epilogue This story was amazing. I'm so sad to see it end. This was probably the best AU I've ever read, and that's saying a lot. You made the Spuffy relationship work without Spike becoming a total lap dog or Buffy being's too demnading. It was a great change from what you normally see. Whatever you write in the future, I'll be sure to check it out! Cheers. Thank you so much! I'm flattered that you think it's the best AU you've seen. I'm glad you liked how I wrote Buffy and Spike. Thanks for reviewing! Thank you so much for such a fabulous and entrancing tale of our two favorite superbeings. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! :-) 05/18/2010 02:12 pm 91 Circles :) ...and then he drowned her? *hopeful eyes* No? Oh, all right then. :-P And I just realized how odd that would look to anyone reading your reviews that doesn't get the joke, lol. "What?? She wants him to kill Buffy? What kind of Spuffy fan is she?" I really do like Spuffy - and I like this Spuffy, and would not at all be opposed to them not dying horrible deaths! (But just this once.) "And then he drowned her," indeed, LOL. "Spike's arms tightened fractionally as he slowly pulled her under. Buffy didn't struggle until it was too late because she wasn't expecting it..." And I just realized how odd that would look to anyone reading your reviews that doesn't get the joke, lol. Don't worry people, nothing to see here! Just a little in-joke. Buffy lives, I assure you... I would not at all be opposed to them not dying horrible deaths! A high compliment indeed! This was such a nice "feel-good" chapter. It was nice to see Cordy, Welsey, and Fred again--and discover that Wesley had asked the Counsel to NOT do the Cruciamentum. What a good friend he has been to her. So now Buffy is hung up on where Spike gets his money, huh? Well, I guess they will continue to have issues to deal with the rest of their lives together, but what you did was show that their love and respect for each other is strong enough to get them through those disagreements. And you did a lovely job of summarizing their relationship. I'm surprised this wasn't the end of the story; it would have worked well as a finale...but I'm also glad to know that it isn't the end and there will be more to read!!! Well, Wesley did withhold key points of information from Buffy at times, but he gets a point for asking the Council to consider not doing the Cruciamentum. He almost says this in chapter 66, but Buffy, angry about something else, cuts him off. Wesley: "I negotiated with the Council for you. I even—" And this could have been the end of the story, but I felt weird ending it in LA. I did want them to go back to LA, but it just didn't seem to be the right way to end it, since most of the story is about building their lives in Sunnydale. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Niori 09/11/2009 03:58 am 91 Circles Yay for the nice, sweet chapter. It was all cutesy. Love that you brought Cordy back for a little bit. I've always been a fan of hers. Can't wait for more. Thank you! I'm glad you liked seeing Cordy again! Just lovely interlude but most of all I really loved the imagery of that last line. Yes he may be following her lead but she is trusting him to take her to deep waters too. Lovely! Kathleen Thank you so much! I like the last line myself... :) :-) 05/18/2010 12:27 pm 90 Choices :) How funny that by coincidence since I am rereading the entire story from the beginning, I just read the chapter today (30?) where Buffy is moving to Sunnydale and Cordy tells her to come back to LA to visit sometime and she can use her family's summer house! I like how you haven't forgotten the details like that even if you wrote them a year ago! The other funny thing is that in chapter 30 you wrote an author's note saying the story was at the halfway point now that she was leaving LA and would have about 30 additional chapters about her time in Sunnydale. I am so glad that you made it more than 60 chapters total! Everything else extra you've added has just made it better and better! Thank you! I'm glad you liked the chapter! Yeah, I made a note of the line Cordelia says about coming back to stay sometime. I'd planned on Buffy and Spike going back to LA in the end, sort of where it started. And yeah, I took that A/N off the archives because it no longer applied, LOL. While I was writing chapter 30, I sort of felt that this was a breaking point in the story, between LA and Sunnydale. I hadn't really planned that it was going to be 60 chapters total, but it seemed reasonable at the time that the Sunnydale portion would take the same amount to tell as the LA part. I was wrong. :) Kriti 09/08/2009 07:40 pm 90 Choices oh thank god things are better between them again! id love some more spuffy romantic time...thank u for the great chapter...update soon! Thanks for reviewing! After all the serious talk in this chapter, I was completely charmed by the flirty ending. They've worked out a few things, Buffy has accepted the limitations of her influence, Spike has accepted his willingness to bend, and now they are gonna have fun! So lovely! Yep, things needed to end on a lighter note, LOL. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! 09/07/2009 10:55 am 90 Choices Some much needed thinking on both sides and, thankfully, a very honest Buffy. She's put Spike through enough hoops! Thanks for reviewing! Fangfaceandrea 09/07/2009 05:08 am 90 Choices I like this Very much, how Spike remains stubborn and the realizes that he might in fact be able to change. XD And it's nice to see Cordy again . Great Chapter. Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked the chapter! :-) 05/18/2010 12:08 pm 89 Resolutions :) excellent read, thank you. giles almost seems to accept, but now makes buffy feel responsible for spike after her death. that would be low even for travers. Thanks for reviewing! Hoo boy. Buffy really didn't think this through. If she's going to push it (and it doesn't look like she is) she has to be ready for him to say, "If I'm so unacceptable, let's just stop right now." How many people is that likely to save? I completely understand her concerns, but I think she needs to say a little Serenity Prayer over this one. I loved the conversation with Spike and Giles, which deftly showed how intelligent and subtle they both can be. Great chapter. Yeah, she really didn't think about opening up the discussion that she opened up. And yes! Buffy needs the Serenity Prayer, LOL. "...grant me the serenity to accept the vampires I cannot change..." I'm glad you liked the conversation between Spike and Giles! I think they needed to have a talk. Thanks for reviewing! Leave it to Giles to toss out something that had to gum up the works! LOL. "There’s not responsibility. It’s not like I’ve got some metaphorical leash,” Buffy said. “He knows what’s wrong, what I can’t live with. And he won’t do it. It’s that simple. It’s not like I’m having to constantly hold him back" That is my attitude when I hear people saying (about canon) that Buffy shouldn't have to be Spike's conscience. I think by S6 he was learning, albeit slowly, how to relate as a human and time would have only given more lessons to him. Yes he was changing because of her and the soul speeded things up but I don't see it as being a burden for Buffy to help guide him in the interim. Point is he was changing. Your story, while not like canon, show that same trait. He IS changing and thinking and adapting. Excellent! Kathleen Speaking of canon, just from watching the show, I didn't come away feeling that Spike didn't have a conscience. Yet, it's a fairly common idea. Spike made bad decisions in canon, but I personally don't see how one can say that he has no moral compass. If Spike and Buffy had been together, I don't think it's like she would end up being his keeper. Yes, he thinks like a vampire, but it's not like he has no clue about what humans consider right and wrong. He just doesn't care, as a vampire. I don't think it's like he can't figure it out, and then not do it. Thanks for reviewing! Oh dear, that was awkward. Hope things look up for them. Thanks for reviewing! Giles as the council's "secret spy"--except he isn't going to do his job for them. I've been angry with him for a lot of chapters, but I guess this finally redeems him for me. Well, I'm glad you like Giles again. I think he had valid objections and concerns from his point of view, but I wanted to bring him back round to being on good terms with Buffy by the end. And I'm glad you like this Spike. Most people seem to, but a few don't like the fact that he hasn't really come around to being fully good. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/18/2010 11:54 am 88 Visits :) w 08/28/2009 10:27 am 88 Visits you always make me happy, that's for sure...love the awkward I love you scene, hilarious and sweet...xander and the manly tears made me laugh..anyway, even giles with his logic...it's all good...this comforts me more than hot soup Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! After several months away from home (and from the internet) it was great to come back and be able to read all those latest chapters at once instead of the agony and suspense of waiting for each chapter to be posted. I've started over reading the entire story from the beginning because you did such a great job of seamlessly tying the chapters together into one smooth, long reading session. But oh no! I've finished ch 88 and now it is back to the agony and suspense of waiting for a new posting. Such torture! :-) Just kidding--I love your story and writing style! Thank you! There is a good thing about no waiting between chapters, LOL. I'm flattered that you started reading it all over again. Well, there won't be much agony soon, because it will be all done and finished up. :) Thanks for reviewing! very good read, thank you. giles really doesn't get it. does he? Thanks for reviewing! Awww. It's very romantic: the roses, the chocolates, the tears, the expressions of commitment, the willingness to do anything it takes. Giles is not helping his case by not understanding the seriousness of the threat the Cruiciamentum represents. That and the mysterious unreadable nurse make me think this story isn't quite over. Which: ¡Yay! Actually, there was not supposed to be anything mysterious about the nurse. She's just someone who was annoying Spike. And the story is quite over, LOL. Two chapters left. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/18/2010 11:30 am 87 Recoveries :) giles is still having difficulties. great read, thank you. loved: :He's a perk too....," Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! 07/23/2009 01:52 am 87 Recoveries happy! Thanks! Fangfaceandrea 07/22/2009 06:01 pm 87 Recoveries Good to see Buffy's recovering and she's son sweet too. I like how Giles is getting the message, slowly but he's getting thre XD great chapter Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! :-) 05/18/2010 11:21 am 86 Wounds :) 07/09/2009 01:51 am 86 Wounds :( buffy get better? Buffy get better! I promise! w 07/08/2009 12:14 pm 86 Wounds ..."she saved me" sigh...and loved the she's my wife bit...again, the clear and precise way you write this still manages to underline the tension like Spike being taciturn and wanting to change his clothes. This is the longest spuffy story I've ever been following it must be said... Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the chapter! (It has gotten quite long, hasn't it?) :) “I’ve got you.” So beautiful.This whole chapter was unexpectedly wonderful. (I'm sorta like Buffy about hospitals.) Xander's discomfort with Spike's emotion in the car, Giles' epiphany about the prophecy (I have to reread), Spike's horrible feeling about being soaked in Buffy's blood, and Willow's helpfulness were all evocative and spot-on. Great job. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! It turned out much longer than I thought it would be (like everything else, LOL). BT_ 07/07/2009 05:33 am 86 Wounds That last bit was completely beautiful. Thank you so much - I needed beauty and tenderness today. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! sarai 07/07/2009 03:36 am 86 Wounds some beautiful lines in this chapter. "So he thought of the future instead of replaying the past". made me weepy. i love it. Thank you so much! 07/06/2009 11:50 pm 86 Wounds love, Love! :) :-) 05/18/2010 11:09 am 85 Battles :) W 07/03/2009 10:23 am 85 Battles "Angelus’ dust continued to settle over both of them." whoosh! That was so satisfying. Oh but this story is ending?...Makes me a tad sad...but she loves him...course, she does ; ) Thank you so much! I think it's about time for the story to end, LOL. It's long enough already. :) ya_lublyu_tebya 07/02/2009 09:07 pm 85 Battles Oh no!! Hope Buffy's okay - very good fight. Thank you! this chapter blew me away. so many excellent turns of phrase. Thank you so much! Pam S 07/02/2009 03:31 am 85 Battles As I hoped.. Buffy saved Spike.. Now to save Buffy.. Wondering how you will end it .. ? Enjoyed.. Yep, Buffy got to save Spike... Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/18/2010 09:27 am 84 Contentions :) I'm glad that the others were willing to go with. And I'm looking forward to reading how you work this all out. I love a good action scene. :) I'm glad you liked it! Thanks! Oh Drusilla! I see Angelus has figured out what his sunshine is! I love how you ended this -- I didn't see it coming (though I might have, possibly, maybe it's just me) -- and you've certainly set it up to leave me anxious for the next update! Yes, Angelus has figured it out and wants it, LOL. As for the ending, there weren't really any hints as to exactly what Angelus was going to do, other than that he wants the gem. Thanks for reviewing! sirc 06/24/2009 09:21 pm 84 Contentions Great chapter! Thank you! w 06/23/2009 12:46 pm 84 Contentions meaty, meaty chappie, packed with many wonderful things. First of all, even if the subject is dire, there is a lot of funny, especially the first part with Anya and Xander...I actually LOL-ed Your spike voice was always good, but so is buffy, and with the humor too...actually you get everyone right, which makes it all the more, well, believable...easier to picture in your head. Thank you so much! I try to have a little humor even in the serious chapters. And Anya's always good for that, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! Brilliant! This is going to be one hell of a showdown. Thank you! I hope you like the next chapter! Bruce 06/23/2009 08:09 am 84 Contentions Good chapter, Buffy did what she had to, hope Spike doesn't lose any limbs to Angelus + scythe. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! I certainly hope that Angelus' inattention to Buffy bites him on the behind! This was a great reveal. I loved Giles' reactions, which seemed very true to his character. Buffy did the requisite rambling, but she didn't back down, which is wonderful. Anya was a treat, in her matter-of-fact way: we haven’t been out with them as much since we’ve been staying home at night having— There's lots to love, here. I'm so excited that we're getting to the conclusion! Well, Buffy might be behind Angelus, but Drusilla is behind Buffy... I'm glad you liked the reveal! This Buffy isn't exactly going to tear into Giles, but she's going to stand up for herself. One conclusion getting nearer... Thanks for reviewing! Yay Anya. :-) 05/18/2010 12:40 am 83 Targets :) Been waiting for this reveal. I like the build up to it. Still enjoying this story a lot. Thank you! ya_lublyu_tebya 06/29/2009 09:07 pm 83 Targets Haha. Well done Anya! Great update. Look forward to more. Glad you liked it! very good chapter. loved the last line, thank you. of course anya spoke first. There's no accounting for Anya, LOL. Glad you liked it! w 06/10/2009 04:58 pm 83 Targets ooh I love it...angelus' crazy psych games and giles/spike meet...can't wait...I love the way spike's clinical almost indifferent approach to the bodies balances our buffy's near freakout, and it's all understated too Yeah, there's no particular reason Spike would be upset about dead girls... He's done as much before. Thanks for reviewing! Wow, two chapters posted right in a row--be careful or you'll spoil us readers!!! I love the twist with the railroad spike so that Giles is now suspicious of William the Bloody. Great last line; you've always been very clever about writing cliff hangers at the end of chapters to keep us in suspense! Well, I might be on a roll, so expect more updates! I'm trying to finish this thing up, LOL. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! 06/09/2009 02:59 am 83 Targets more more more! Thank you! 06/08/2009 04:31 am 83 Targets Beautiful!!!!! Thank you! :-) 05/18/2010 12:27 am 82 Stirrings :) pfeifferpack 06/06/2009 04:13 am 82 Stirrings OH so glad to see this updated! Now to discover this legend....intriguing! I can see Buffy's point. It is a different dynamic now and the giving of blood needs to be other than a set routine. I think she can tackle that change easily enough. Offering when not expected for example would work nicely and likely please him. Good Dru voice. Very visual and in character. Congratulations on the much deserved nominations. Kathleen Thank you! Yes, I'm back and updating, LOL. I'm glad you liked the scene with Dru! Sometimes it's hard to get her where she doesn't sound just plain crazy, and instead sounds Dru!crazy. Thanks for reviewing! understand buffy's thoughts on their arrangement, just hope she expresses it well. very good read, thank you. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! ya_lublyu_tebya 06/04/2009 06:46 pm 82 Stirrings Uh oh. Angel's going after the Gem... :-S Also, nice intimacy between B and S. Wonder why Buffy's having doubts though? Yep, Angelus is going to want the gem. Thanks for reviewing! -W- 06/04/2009 12:38 pm 82 Stirrings So hot, complex and funny...insightful as always, long wait is always worth it, and love accounts of the fanged 3 Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Hopefully any long waits are over now, LOL. I should get the rest out fairly quickly. Ruh roh! There's trouble a-brewin'! The idea of the "business arrangement" becoming something different as their personal relationship deepens is very interesting. I just hope Buffy is able to phrase it tactfully enough that Spike doesn't feel he's getting "fired". Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! :-) 05/17/2010 02:50 pm 81 Dreams :) very, very good . thank you. enjoy your buffy and faith conversations Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! fangfaceandrea 05/05/2009 03:49 pm 81 Dreams Great chapter!!! hey as long as Buffy doesn't freeze up when she sees Angelus I think they'll be alright. I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! Very ominous, darling. I love your Faith voice, and also that Faith is popping in with her side of the story. Very funny bit with the dance floor shenanigans, too. Let's dance! Thank you! I'm glad you liked Faith! I'm excited to see the whole thing with Angelus coming to a head--I've been holding my breath in suspense for quite a while now. But Alas, it also means we are coming closer to the end of this wonderful story. To comment on the comment Cas made. Yes, there are folks who are looking for sex more than content, but I'm not one of them. I want plot, great dialogue, and good characterization--exactly what your story has! And I think that is what most readers are looking for in a good fanfic. You were revising chapters starting back with chap. 1, right? Could you post which ones you changed so I know which ones I need to go back and reread? Yep, things are winding down and closing up. Less than ten chapters to the end, and short chapters at that. (But I'm still working on that "how Spike met Wesley" one shot as well. And there will be another Interlude. And then maybe a standalone story that takes place after Sideways. So I've still got things to do, LOL.) And I think that is what most readers are looking for in a good fanfic. It's interesting. Many readers are looking for sex (included in a good fanfic). I used to get lots of comments asking when Buffy and Spike were going to have sex again. Yet, I've many comments in forum or LJ threads about fanfic where people said they often skipped over sex scenes. So who knows? Thanks for reviewing! Cas 05/05/2009 04:26 am 81 Dreams Plot thickens! Great story. I can't imagine how you only won runner up at those awards. Hard to imagine what could beat this story. I guess maybe there's not enough sex for some tastes. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! sirc 05/04/2009 11:19 pm 81 Dreams Great chapter! Thanks! :-) 05/17/2010 02:44 pm 80 Understandings :) “I’ve been thinking.” normally that would be a very scary phrase. very good read, thank you. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! I was really intrigued by the idea you put in this chapter about the difference between "killing" and "dusting". I really like how your Buffy THINKS about things and has honest discussions with Spike (unlike Joss's Buffy!) LOL. I hope Buffy thinking and discussing doesn't maker her OOC. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/17/2010 01:24 pm 79 Arrangements :) A suitably chilling turn from Angelus. I hope no one is underestimating him. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Oh dear....this Buffy is not suffering from canon Buffy's curse of waiting too long to say it is she? *nervous nail biting*. Lovely chapter with Buffy and Spike but scary and nerve wracking with Angelus! Excellent all round. Kathleen Hmm, Buffy does have a bad canon history with saying those three little words, doesn't she? I'm sure I never thought of that at all. *evil grin* I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 02/27/2009 07:51 pm 79 Arrangements Oh dear, trouble's a brewing. :-s Nice view of Buffy's feelings in the middle - glad she can finally admit she loves him. Look forward to more! Thank you! Yes, Buffy has admitted things to herself at least... I'm glad you liked it! AHHHH a) finally buffy!! and b) spike and buffy can kick their asses!! hahaha lovee cant wait for more SSxox Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! yahoo! It looks like I finally get to be the first reviewer of this chapter (I've been trying for 79 chapters now!) There is too much right with this chapter to say it all. I love your line "He was a complete mess of contradictions." That is great; it really sums up Spike perfectly both in your story and in seasons 1-7. I also like Buffy's decision to stay with him focusing on your sentence "She had decided long ago that she could accept the past as long as it didn’t repeat itself." You are so powerful with your words! ...now we're getting to the scary part of the story; you really made Angelus creepy. Poor Buffy! Thank you! I'm glad you liked that line. I think that's why Spike's so fun. He can be so many things at once. He might be a killer, but he's also so much more. And Buffy realizes that. Angelus is the best when he's creepy, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/17/2010 01:18 pm 78 Secrets :) very fine read, thank you. it is enjoyable to 'watch' buffy try to get her thoughts straight. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! W 02/25/2009 05:03 am 78 Secrets I'm so loving these moral ambiguities...and their debates about it...and buffy's hand wringing, and spike's non-chalance...it's like home... Thank you! I'm glad you're liking it! Still loving this story. Nice to have a "good" prophecy for a change. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Time for Buffy to grow up if she thinks she can have it both ways. Buffy has some thinking to do. Thanks for reviewing! 02/22/2009 12:27 pm 78 Secrets ahhh i just love your work Thank you! whoa! Heavy conversation! Spike made some really great points. I like how you referred back to their relationship before she became a slayer; the story has so many chapters that I tend to forget how it all started sometimes. And this was cute: “You were threatening.” She fixed a slight glare on him. “I was menacing. It’s completely different.” Thank you! Yeah, I try to bring up things sometimes to tie the beginning to the end, since this fic has just gotten so long. But Buffy did need to know at some point that Spike had killed someone for her. And I'm glad you liked that line! I stole the idea from Blood Ties, and Spike's line about "lurking/standing about." Thanks for reviewing! Oh, tense chapter. Buffy says she's accepted his past and his nature... but I don't think she understands exactly what she's saying she's accepted, or what 'accepting' it means. Also nice that Buffy is reminded that vampires aren't the only bad guys out there. Anyhow, great chapter, I love it. Yeah, Buffy has some thinking to do. I think on some level, no one who's not a vampire can actually understand what it's like to be one. She'd like to think that because he said he wouldn't kill, that that would be it, and she wouldn't have to deal with vampire things again. Thanks for reviewing! AWWW poor spike love love love cant wait for more SSxox Thank you so much! :-) 05/17/2010 01:09 pm 77 Stages :) As unholy alliances went, she could have done a lot worse. My thought, exactly! And I'm still really enjoying this story. Buffy made a good deal in the end, LOL. I'm glad you're still enjoying it! Oh man! Loved the end portion with the prophecy and all that. Wonder if Buffy will tell Giles that she knows what it's talking about. Probably not. Or at least, not right away. Adored the cute wrestling scene. And the scene with Spike threatening Giles was fabulous as well. Magnificent chapter! Thank you! Yeah, Buffy won't exactly be sharing the prophecy with Giles. I'm glad you liked the wrestling scene, and how Spike threatened Giles. Thanks for reviewing! Bring on the unholy alliance! Yup that's a prophecy all right....it sounds bad on paper but is oh so good in reality. LOVED the tension (and you made the reader FEEL it) when Spike made his point to Giles. I knew he wouldn't just let that go. That was utterly perfect. No threat at all but very threatening at the same time. “He made me get them and count his change back.” “Gee, it sort of sounds like he bought some candles.” Too perfect for words. This is still vastly entertaining and so very well written. Loved it. Kathleen Yes, prophecies are tricky. :) They sound like one thing and end up being entirely another. Although, a Slayer making a blood deal with a notorious vampire is rather unholy by definition, LOL. I'm glad you liked the bit with Spike and Giles. Yes, Spike couldn't pass up saying something to Giles. I had fun writing this scene because I wanted Spike to be intimidating and chilling without actually vamping out or issuing some blatant threat. Thanks for reviewing! AHHHh LOVE IT!!! cant wait for more SSxox Thank you so much! ya_lublyu_tebya 02/13/2009 09:35 pm 77 Stages Ohhh, very interesting. Very nice threatening by Spike there, scary but subtle. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Rats! I'd checked the website 3 times already today watching for the next chapter and found it shortly after you put it up, but I still didn't get to be the first to post a review. See how your devoted fans haunt the site in eager anticipation? Loved your dialogue with Oz. I laughed at the line that Buffy said all vampires look alike and Spike glared. Intrigued by the new events with Angelus. I'm glad Spike disturbed Giles with his attitude while buying candles--I knew Spike wouldn't pass up a chance to "protect" Buffy. Super chap as always! Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it, and sorry to keep you waiting! I think all the vampires on Buffy do look alike, LOL. Only the fanged four got really individual vamp makeup. Yeah, Spike couldn't resist saying a little something to Giles (even if the threatening was in what he didn't say). More Angelus coming soon! Thanks for reviewing! “I like it,” Oz said. “It’s not subtle.” Oh, but Oz is, the dear! Very nice. I like the wrestling, everybody sniping at Giles (who got off lightly), and particularly that sweet unholy alliance. How nice for Buffy to know that it's going to pay off, if the "never wrong" book isn't wrong! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, Buffy made a deal that will turn out very well for her. She got Spike to teach her, and you know he'll be watching her back forever, so she's got good reason that she'll end up as the longest lived Slayer. Thanks for reviewing! kittyvamp 02/13/2009 05:08 am 77 Stages so good as always Thank you! Fangfaceandrea 02/13/2009 02:58 am 77 Stages great chapter, Spike was just a genius and I'd like to know more about this prophecy. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! :-) 05/17/2010 12:55 pm 76 Trials :) Deb 02/11/2009 09:44 am 76 Trials Thanks for "the trick", a good foil for a helpless slayer. I do like how your Spike does keep his killer instincts intact and although cold blooded in his willingness to do anything to protect Buffy, she can talk him past this (despite how tangibly it hurts her to do so). It's always bittersweet, but so lovely that way. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! In some ways, I think's Spike's first solution to any problem is always going to be killing it. Luckily, Buffy can get him away from that, even if he doesn't necessarily want to. Thanks for reviewing! sirc 01/31/2009 10:20 pm 76 Trials Well done Thank you! 01/30/2009 10:45 pm 76 Trials What a great team they make, just how it should have been! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Oh, loved the trick! And that was neat that she got it from a dream with Faith. Oh, I knew Spike would be pissed. That was funny at the end. Man, when Giles and Spike finally meet, I'm thinking they won't exactly like each other. =D And Buffy's right. Staking first and asking questions later does have one problem: dust doesn't seem to respond. =D Great chapter! I loved it all. Thank you! Yes, Faith finally said something useful to Buffy, LOL. Giles and Spike have met (sort of) when Spike took Buffy to Giles's after Angelus bit her, though Giles doesn't know Spike's a vampire. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/28/2009 07:47 pm 76 Trials Another great update! Knew Spike just couldn't resist being there - and I'm surprised she was so upset about it. Loved it. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! As for Buffy being upset, I think she perhaps realizes how truly bad it would be for the Council to become aware that she has been working with Spike. Thanks for reviewing! I admit I smiled and laughed out loud quite a few times reading this chapter--not only clever, but very witty dialogue, too! How did you come up with such a great idea to beat the vamp? (Maybe you are secretly a Slayer yourself???) You made the Cruc. test fit in perfectly within the larger overall story arc; I'm glad you decided to include it afterall. The story, Buffy and Spike's evolving relationship, and your writing style and humor just get better and better. Of course, now that you've posted the last two chapters within a week, I've gotten spoiled and will keep hoping for frequent updates! :-) Thank you! As for how Buffy beat the vamp, I knew I wanted to use what Faith almost did to Wesley in that episode of AtS. Fire and spray can seems like a pretty good vamp killing thing. I'm not really sure exactly how I thought of it, but ever since I decided to do the Cruciamentum, I knew that's how I wanted Buffy to kill the vamp. (I even asked back in September about what Faith used, here on the forum.) Fire and holy water are the only things that don't need strength, and Buffy used holy water on the show. And I liked the idea that Faith tells her how to do it. I'm hoping to have more frequent updates, but these last chapters were so long, LOL. Next chapter will either be short or there will be a wait. Thanks for reviewing! hahahahaha i love it!! cant wait for more SSxox Thank you so much! Secret Slayer 01/27/2009 10:15 pm 76 Trials OK... so i thought the last chapter was the best and that this story couldn't possibly get any better and then you write this chapter... and it just got even better... i really loved this and i liked your twist on how the test went... i thought you wrote the spike and buffy interactions perfectly... great job! and i loved the quick update... hope to see more soon!!! Thank you for the compliments! I'm glad you liked it so much! This chapter was the longest ever, so I'll probably have either a bit of a breather before I post again, or next chapter will definitely be shorter, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! Katherine 01/27/2009 08:08 pm 76 Trials Awww, if only we could all have Spikes to watch our backs. I really love the way you write him in this fic! And I can't wait for the next update! Everyone needs a guardian Spike... :) Thanks for reviewing! 09/21/2010 02:06 am 75 Intentions : :-) 05/17/2010 11:18 am 75 Intentions :) Makes me nervous that she's left the store, without her powers and without her vampire escort. And with Angelus planning something! Thanks for reviewing! hope buffy retains her anger and mistrust of the watcher, i'm sure spike will. good read, thank you. Thank you! Things won't just go back to the way they were between Buffy and Giles as easily as they did in canon... ya_lublyu_tebya 01/25/2009 07:27 pm 75 Intentions Man, Spike is going to go mad when he finds out. Can't wait for the next update. Yes, Spike will not be happy... Thanks for reviewing! Richard 01/24/2009 06:53 pm 75 Intentions I always thought Giles should hang for this betrayal. On the show, he betrayed Buffy, he betrayed Dawn, he betrayed Buffy by demanding that she of all people kill her sister, he betrayed Buffy again by leaving her when her life was falling apart, and then he betrayed Spike. It's too bad Buffy doesn't have the guts to order his death. I merely hope that given she's older and vastly more independent in this AU, she doesn't do a craven thing like crawl back to the murderous traitor. I mean, she's pissed at Wesley for witholding things and she OWES Wesley. Also, in your AU the Council's operations unit has been wiped out. So Buffy had nothing to fear from them even without Spike being in the picture. And Giles really should have known this. He did it to protect his job and NOTHING more. Anything he says otherwise is the weasely self-serving rationalization of a rat bastard. So actually, you've written yourself into a corner. If you have Buffy forgive Giles for what he's done, you will be raping the character you've created. I really hope you're okay with this fact because I want to see the fic continue. But I'd rather it end than read about something spectacularly nauseating. You've made Buffy smarter, more resilient and less codependent. You've ripped away every single excuse Buffy in the show had for doing what she did. If your Buffy does the same craven and miserable things that she did on the show, it will reveal that she is fundamentally fucked up in the head. I apologize if this is all obvious to you but I once read a fanfic where the author did exactly this and she never realized what she had done until I pointed it out to her. So my concern is by no means theoretical. Sorry you feel that way. wow! great chapter! i really cant wait for more, this is the best story ever! (and i've read a lot!) please update really really soon! i loved this!!! =] Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! fangfaceandrea 01/23/2009 05:56 pm 75 Intentions ouch, poo rBuffy, nice bath scene though, and I really liked her last line . Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Katherine 01/23/2009 05:12 pm 75 Intentions The way you wrote Spike in this chapter - so worried that he had or would hurt Buffy - was simply amazing. Good, good work! And nice touch with Giles' involvement with Buffy's strength loss. All in all, a very good chappie! I'm looking forward to another update soon! Thank you! Yes, Giles has played a part in Buffy losing her strength. I'm glad you liked the way Spike reacted. I should have an update soon and thanks for reviewing! I love how Buffy isn't taking any crap from anyone. Go girl! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! W 01/23/2009 09:03 am 75 Intentions You are so good at juggling together the quiet intimacy along with the complex plot elements, and interweaving canon details...still rapt Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad you're liking it! awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww well at least theyve realised what was wrong, and spike can help buffy!! lovee cant wait for more SSxox Yep, it's out in the open now. Glad you enjoyed! Buffy really should have been harsh with Giles over the betrayal...he is a THINKING man and in no way does that ritual make sense if it is thought out. Poor Spike, I can so easily see him guilt ridden over her bruises. He is not gong to be a happy vamp when he finds out the plans for Buffy later that night. Willow will have plenty of thinking to do about the Council after this bit of information. Buffy too more obviously...now if Giles would only think. Excellent update. Kathleen I think Buffy is still just shocked right now. She'll be mad at Giles for a while, though. And while Giles may be slightly bothered by the Cruciamentum, he is still very much doing what the Council wants at his point. Spike will indeed not be a happy vamp when he finds out... Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/17/2010 11:08 am 74 Assurances :) I'm glad Spike figured it out. I'm wondering what he's going to do to Giles? Nothing too terrible... Thanks for reviewing! Hurray--another chapter! Best. New. Year's. present. EVER! I love how creative you are and how you manage to surprise me with your twists....like when Spike bit her that is how they discovered she'd been drugged. I didn't see that one coming! And I also adored how the characters referred back to how he'd cared about Buffy before she became the Slayer and he could love her that way again. So sweet! Thank you! I'm glad you liked the twist, because there are more twists coming up. One of the reasons I wanted to do the Cruciamentum was because Buffy and Spike met when she was not the Slayer, and I wanted to explore that again, even if for a bit. Thanks for reviewing! OMGGG YAY SPIKE! hahha i hated giles in this episode hahaha lovee cant wait for more SSxox Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Deb 01/16/2009 08:07 pm 74 Assurances Excellent update. So glad to get a heads up on this before Buffy and her mom are in peril (or it could still happen). so many places that you can take us with the story line. Love this fic. Hmm, don't expect this Cruciamentum to go down like the one on the show did... I'm glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing! AHA Brilliant way for her to find out the truth! YAY Spike. This should be interesting. Wonder how she'll explain the way she discovered the truth. You've really done a great job of keeping this story interesting and flowing nicely for a large number of chapters...congratulations! Still excellent. Kathleen Glad you liked Spike finding the drugs in her blood. But they might not be quite to 'the truth' yet. Thank you for the compliments! Sometimes I'm worried that people will lose interest because this story has gone on for so long, so I'm glad that's not the case. 01/13/2009 02:20 am 74 Assurances ooh, nice discovery! Glad you liked it! Fangfaceandrea 01/12/2009 11:44 pm 74 Assurances great twist!!!! Can't believe that it never occurred to me that if Spike drank from her he'd know!!! Loved the chapter! I the conversations between them are always something I enjoy in your fic. You never dissapoint. XD Thank you! I'm glad you liked how Spike found out, and that you enjoyed their conversation! Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/12/2009 07:04 pm 74 Assurances Ahah!! Very clever way to find out about the drug. Methinks Spike is going to be kicking some ass when he finds out what's been going on. Why is everyone so sure Spike is going to kick ass, LOL? I'm glad you liked how they found the drug. Thanks for reviewing! akarinacj 01/12/2009 01:48 pm 74 Assurances This was a really great chapter. And I loved the twist at the end. :-)) Please update soon.:-)) I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! W 01/12/2009 11:12 am 74 Assurances Nice. Liked the ordinariness of the previous one and then the quiet intensity of this one...You do know how to end them, like every chap has its own beginning, middle and end...apart from the overall story. Dialogue as good as ever...loved the paragraph about his afterglow epiphany; it's something I've thought about (in relation to spuff) but never quite expressed as eloquently... Thank you! The 'epiphany' paragraph was one I'd had written for a while and had originally intended to put quite near the end of the story, but that was when I thought the story was going to be around 60 chapters. And I'm glad you like the chapter endings. Some people accuse me of evil cliffhangers, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! Cas 01/12/2009 02:51 am 74 Assurances Not at all surprised that he could taste something wrong with her blood, but thought he might find something else. Great conversations between them. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Oh, interesting twist having Spike discover Buffy's been drugged by tasting her blood. Spike will probably be wanting to bite Giles next when he finds out he's behind it. Come to think of it, I wonder if this Spike knows enough about Slayers to know about the Cruciamentum (or whatever your version of it is). Glad you liked Spike discovering that something is in her blood. I've got a few more twists coming up... Decided how much this Spike might or might not know about the Cruciamentum was something I had to decide as well, which will also be in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing! Leanne 01/12/2009 02:10 am 74 Assurances Eeeek!! She's been drugged. As Mister T would say "I pitty da' fool" who would drug the slayer when she has such a protective lover watching over her. Can't wait to see how you resovle this issue with all the players - Angelus, Giles, the watchers council, Joyce, Buffy and Spike. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Hopefully a few of those things will get resolved in the next chapter or two. Some of the others...won't. ^_^ Thanks for reviewing! I love how their connection gets stronger, and look what it's revealed!! The calm before the storm. Perfect. Yep, the storm is coming up... Thanks for reviewing! OMG!!!! What a fantastic chapter! Wow! I absolutely loved it! "You've been drugged." Great ending... I hope you update really soon, becuase this is my fave spuffy story of all time! Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I'm so flattered that my story is your favorite. I'm hoping to update next weekend. 01/11/2009 10:38 pm 74 Assurances Please don't make us wait too long, I can't wait for the confrontation!!! Glad you liked it! I'm hoping to have the next part up next weekend. :-) 05/17/2010 10:56 am 73 Difficulties :) spike better get his head around what might have happened and on what is happening. any chance he can drink giles and get a pass from buffy? very good read, thank you. Why is everyone so sure Giles is going to meet an untimely end, LOL? ;) Glad you liked it! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/11/2009 10:50 am 73 Difficulties Oh dear. Spike's feeling guilty, Buffy's just confused. And Giles needs a slap. Can't wait for more! LOL about Giles needing a slap. And poor Spike is feeling bad. Thanks for reviewing! So happy you're back with this story. WTF has Giles done to her? I hope Anya remembers and blabs. Waiting anxiously for the next installment. I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for reviewing! I love this story and i'm so glad you updated. I thought you had stopped updating this for a while! This was a great chapter and i cant wait to see what happens next! Please update really soon!!!! =] Thank you! I'm glad you liked the chapter! I did fall a bit behind on updating, but hopefull it won't happen again. ^_^ I take it this is all down to Giles and his dirty deeds. Grrr. It's a pity Anya didn't remember, she could have blown Giles out of the water. Yep, Giles has something to do with it... Thanks for reviewing! Fangfaceandrea 01/09/2009 04:50 am 73 Difficulties poor Buffy, and Spike being distant doesn't help. great chapter. Don't worry, Buffy and Spike will have plenty of "un-distant" time coming up! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 01/09/2009 03:46 am 73 Difficulties Very interesting, what could be causing the problem if not the big C? Also thought it could be Spike getting stronger from ingesting Slayer blood, but I guess not. Also, seems like Giles should be more concerned if he is not involved in causing it! Giles should be more concerned, so he must know more than he's letting on... Thanks for reviewing! Oh Giles......you just don't question the stupidity of this rite do you? I'd love Willow to find documentation on it before Buffy has to face the challenge. Lovely to see this updates. Love the blend with canon you've done in this chapter too. Poor Spike hates hurting his girl. Kathleen Well, Giles is just following orders, of course. That said, this particular rite is less stupid than the canon one, LOL. At any rate, it should leave less weird loose ends and plot hole-y questions. And Willow in research mode is not to be trifiled with... And yes, Spike is having issues with Buffy's sudden fragile state, after realizing what could have happened. Thanks for reviewing! Katherine 01/23/2009 04:54 pm 72 Shocks Again, love the coupley-ness of Spike and Buffy. They're sooo good together. But, where have Buffy's powers gone? Has Giles been doing some meditation meddling? Giles has been doing something... Thanks for reviewing! if this is what i think it is, spike is not going to be as forgiving as buffy was in canon. very good read, thank you. Buffy might not be as forgiving as Buffy was in canon, either. Thanks for reviewing! Ooooo Spike is going to be mad when it is all figured out! It would be hard to keep close to canon and NOT do it since it is such a part of Council procedure. Love the relationship. They are really building a strong foundation for the love they feel and have yet to acknowledge. Lovely. Kathleen Yes, Spike might not be too happy with this turn of events. Though, neither will Buffy. She doesn't have quite the relationship that she did with Giles on the show. While it might make it less of a betrayal, it might also not give her such an incentive to immediately forgive him. As for Buffy and Spike's feelings, Spike at least, has said that he loved her in chapter 68, though they haven't talked about it since. Thanks for reviewing! w 12/09/2008 11:49 am 72 Shocks ooh a little kink and some drama, a good change of pace and nice mixup. I really like the part where she asks him to bite her on the left. This is actually the only fic I've read that delves on the biting mechanics and psychology (as such) to this extent. It's a good angle (ha!), that canon could understandably not get much into. Love the whole account of buying groceries (I find accounts of offhand domesticity much more romantic than candlelit dinners and walks on the beach cliche stuff) and laughed at the saga of her shower gel and hair products...so funny. It's true how men (vampire or not) sooo don't get that. Thank you! I'm glad you like the way I'm doing the biting! Because some chapters are all about the bitey... And yep, canon is definitely not going there, because biting is *bad.* :) I think everyday things can be just as intimiate and romantic, too, because it's how a couple really lives. Plus, you can only have so many dinners and walks in a fic. Thanks for reviewing! sirc 12/07/2008 06:03 pm 72 Shocks Well done! Thank you! OMG... I absolutely loved this!!!! I really can not wait until the next chapter! I hope you update really soon! The ending to this was possibly my favourite moment of the whole story so far! Please update really soon! ( I will review this on FanFiction too!) =] Thank you! I'm glad you liked it so much! I'm working on the update... 12/06/2008 12:10 pm 72 Shocks omg wonderfull as always i just love them together Thank you! Now that she has gotten to the point where she can beat Spike, I expected Buffy would be defeating Angelus soon, and the story would be ending. But no! What a clever wrinkle you've added to the plot. Of course, if Buffy couldn't beat Angelus before, now I'm really worried for her...on the other hand this time the slayer has something she didn't have in the TV version of the Cruciamentum--she has Spike! I am eager to see what you do next; I'm addicted to your story! Yep, I have to be evil and do something else, LOL. But Buffy can be defeating Angelus soon after this, maybe. And then the story can end soon, maybe. :) It will end, I swear. Buffy has the Cruciamentum to deal with now, but you're right, she also has Spike. I'm glad you enjoyed, and thanks for reviewing! SunshineSlayer 12/06/2008 04:24 am 72 Shocks i LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! ahh poor buffyy im sure she'll be fine after it lovee cant wait for more (an unsigned in) SSxox Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! 12/06/2008 03:00 am 72 Shocks Oh, that's a great idea. I didn't even think about the Cruciamentum but it will be an interesting addition to this story. I can't help but wonder of the fall out. Buffy isn't as close to Giles in this one, I'm not sure I can see her forgiving him. Yeah, Buffy and Giles are definitely not as close as they were on the show, so there will be some issues. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Grrr. That's the last thing Buffy needs, just when she was feeling confident too! Two steps forward, one step back... Thanks for reviewing! Ahhh, that's what it is? Could be interesting to see how she reacts - and maybe how Spike reacts. Great update. Reactions coming up soon! Thanks for reviewing! Pam S 12/05/2008 09:21 pm 72 Shocks Well, let's see what happened to cause her weakness... And the Council... one girl in all the World ... a slave to a bunch of whimpy guys in suits... and why wasn't she given a salary? Jerks.. Kind of a far fetched concept. But an enjoyable story you can escape into... And Helpless against Angelus now? Enjoying. Yeah, the Council always sort of came off as jerks. It didn't really make sense on the show that they expected her to save the world and keep a job as well. As for Angelus, maybe, maybe not. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/17/2010 01:00 am 71 Confessions :) spikesbabe 04/25/2009 07:28 am 71 Confessions tight Thanks! spikesbabe 04/25/2009 07:27 am 71 Confessions tight Thanks! Katherine 01/23/2009 04:37 pm 71 Confessions Joyce is pretty much awesome! I mean, what other mother would take the news that her daughter was dating a hundred year old vamp in stride? Good, good chapter! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! have been enjoying the buffy-spike dialogues, the buffy- joyce conversation was exceptional. very good chapter, thank you Thank you! It seems like I spent a lot of time trying to get the Joyce talk just right, so I'm glad it worked. sirc 12/07/2008 05:39 pm 71 Confessions Great chapter! :) Thank you! fangfaceandrea 11/28/2008 04:48 am 71 Confessions great to see them come clean to Joyce, and Buffy sort of freaking ot about moving in wa cute Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Really nice chapter laying a foundation for them as a couple. They are really good together and I am glad they have leveled with Joyce. The hard part will be Giles given what happened with Faith. Kathleen Yeah, telling Giles might not be such a walk in the park. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! I liked the straight talking between Joyce and Buffy, and the fact that they really listened to each other. The sweet domesticity of Spike and Buffy is a rare treat too! I'm glad you liked Buffy's talk with Joyce! It took a long time to get right, and to make sure I got all the necessary information and questions in. Thanks for reviewing! I love the Joyce conversation. She always asks great questions. I also liked Spike talking Buffy down from her Cosmo-induced panic attack. The naughty sparring was quite nice, as well. "Cosmo-induced panic attack" I like it! That's definitely what she was having. And everyone needs some naughty sparring with Spike, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! W 11/26/2008 07:38 am 71 Confessions Again...excellent chapter...nice and easy, and aren't they the cutest? And that bit at the end was so much fun. You describe it so well, I could picture it, should fit in easily in "Fool for Love". This made me laugh: “We do normal things.” Buffy pouted. “We watch TV and go out. Just yesterday we went on a date. He paid,” she added, like that confirmed it. subtle and dry, you know. Thank you! I'm glad you liked that line! And Buffy and Spike are cute together, aren't they? Being domestic, but trying not to be. And doing the fake biting scene was fun. Thanks for reviewing! Grin. ;-) 05/17/2010 12:48 am 70 Days :) Carly 03/18/2009 07:54 pm 70 Days I really like this story so far! Great job. I can't wait to find out what happens next. But chapters 70 - 79 don't show up. I'm not sure what is wrong...? Thank you! I'm glad you're liking it! The site is being weird is what's wrong. Nothing that's been posted since November is showing up right now. But you can find the rest of the chapters on the Elysian Fields or The Spuffy Realm. Carly 03/18/2009 07:54 pm 70 Days I really like this story so far! Great job. I can't wait to find out what happens next. But chapters 70 - 79 don't show up. I'm not sure what is wrong...? Thank you! Katherine 01/23/2009 04:27 pm 70 Days I'm so happy that the Spuffy relationship seems to have worked out! I hope Joyce isn't too upset. Joyce just needs some time to process things. She shouldn't be too bad. Thanks for reviewing! Heh, Spike tailing her to class is a little creepy. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but he really ought to keep his codependency in check. Neediness is not attractive. ;) Can't wait to see what Joyce's reaction to that little tidbit is. Or Giles', for that matter, whenever she gets around to telling him... Yeah, I don't think Buffy is going to stand for him following her around. But I think he'll be getting enough of her at home now. :) Joyce's reaction coming right up! Thanks for reviewing! “Smart lady, your mum.” let's hope so, otherwise the next chapter is going to be a very painful read. very good chapter, thank you. Thank you! Glad you liked it! Hoo boy! That's going to be some talk! I can't remember if Joyce has met Giles yet, but now might be a good time for her to seek a professional opinion. Not that it would allay her fears, much. I am enjoying your steady hand with this story. You have a lot of balls in the air, but you make it look easy! Yes, Joyce has met Giles, right after Buffy told her mom that she was the Slayer, though there wasn't an actual conversation between them in the fic. But she can't talk to Giles, LOL, or he would know. And it's not time for that. *evil laugh* Thank you for the compliments, and thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 11/10/2008 09:03 am 70 Days Well, that was one way to drop the bomb on Joyce!! Can't wait to see her reaction. Great update - I look forward to the next. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Deb 11/10/2008 04:04 am 70 Days Great chappie! Thanks for updates! Thank you! Glad you liked it! Da da....Cat is well out of the bag now. Wonder what Joyce will do with THAT bit of information. Spike is so cute with his need to be at her side 24/7. Yup, he's a lovesick boy alright. Love Willow's reaction too. Even with what happened to Faith she is willing to give Spike the benefit of the doubt....good for her. I think Giles will have a cow when he finds out but it will likely be one of those cases where he finds out in the worst way possible LOL...just Buffy's luck. Fantastic update...still loving this story. Kathleen Yep, Buffy and Spike are out of the closet. To her mom, at least. But Joyce won't freak out *too* much. Thought you might have hit the nail on the head about Giles finding out in the worst possible way... And what can I say? Spike is just cute, isn't he? :) Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! omggg AMAZINGGG!!! ahhh joyce is gonna freaaakkk hahaha aww spike is so cute taking her on a date! SSxox Well, she might not freak out *too* badly... Glad you liked it, and thanks for reviewing! Leanne 11/08/2008 05:58 pm 70 Days My favorite exchange in this chapter: "That's strangely not comforting. Now I have to worry about vampires in the daytime." "Only the daring ones." Ha ha ha ha!! That seems like exactly what Spike would do/say if he hadn't lost the gem to Buffy. Glad you liked that bit! Thanks for reviewing! Joyce is pretty cool - let's hope. Buffy and Spike are so cute together - “First days of an ‘official’ relationship,” he said. “Codependency comes with the territory.” Sweet. Yeah, I think Joyce is pretty cool, she shouldn't freak out *too* much. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! wow, way to drop a bombshell, Buffy! Yeah, not exactly gently breaking the news... Thanks for reviewing! =W= 11/08/2008 08:12 am 70 Days the humor is so...deadpan. I love it..particularly this... "After a while, they switched to another tactic, pretending the chair was Willow, or ‘some other bird you feel the need to defend.’" hahaha that's just soooo spike... I remember reading one of the other reviews in the previous chapter that said this one of the strongest Spikes she's ever read, and I'd have to concur, here! here!. This Spike is very (ahem) layered, just like the "real"(ha!) one. After I read the last chapter, I was mulling about in my mind why this story just really works, and I think it's because you don't give anything away, no easy resolutions. Nothing feels contrived or melodramatic... all very organic, inlcuding (or especially) the arguing. I swear, Goldenusagi, I read this and sometimes think, damn! She could have written late season 6, and spared us the heartbreak that made spuffy hearts bleed across 5 continents...hahaha....thank God for AU.... Thank you for all the kind words! I'm always glad when people think something is funny, since humor is hard to write. Sometimes I'm worried whether something will work or not. And thank you for the compliments on my Spike. I try very hard to get characterization right, and still keep him "mine." As for the story itself, I've tried to keep everything flowing naturally, and keep it balanced. I want it to feel real, and not have any easy outs or be too predictable. (I suspect there are several authors who could have written season 6 better, but I'm flattered that you think I'm one of them. Spuffy lives forever in fanfic!) Thank you for the compliments, and thanks for reviewing! so good like always but i cant wait for everyone to find out spikes a vampire with the gem Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/17/2010 12:36 am 69 Connections :) Katherine 01/23/2009 04:23 pm 69 Connections I absolutely loved the ending of this chapter! The coupley-ness of Spike and Buffy was wonderful!!! So good! Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Elaine 11/02/2008 02:04 pm 69 Connections i'm loving it keep looking for updates Thank you! I'm trying to get an update soon! athena606 10/28/2008 11:27 pm 69 Connections what a great chapter. i can't wait for more. it's like watching a tv series. I'm glad you're liking it! Thanks for reviewing! sharon sharonm 10/28/2008 06:36 pm 69 Connections I am so glad you are writing this story again, I love the whole concept. Hope you had a nice break. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for reviewing! great chapter, thank you. love their conversations. Thank you! Welcome back from your break! You are obviously feeling refreshed because this chapter was just as strong as all the previous ones. Your Spike is one of the strongest Spikes anyone in fanfic has written. I'm so glad you didn't make him wimpy and desperate for love. He is his own man/vamp--he knows what he wants and goes after it, so that when he offers to give up killing because he loves Buffy, it means a lot. But it isn't happily ever after yet, because Angelus is still lurking out there somewhere, right? Thank you so much! It's good to be back, too. And thank you for the compliments on my Spike. I like a Spike who still has an edge, even if he is in love with Buffy. He might do things to please her, but there's more to him than the fact that he's in love with her, so he is still his own person. Angelus is lurking somewhere, but what he's up to is a bit of a mystery... I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Em 10/25/2008 06:10 am 69 Connections Yay! I'm so happy they finally got it together. More pleeease! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! They are such a cute couple. She really brings the human out in him. Love the all day sex marathon. There are some real advantages to a vampire for a boyfriend LOL. I love that you are making them still having to feel around each other, that rings true. Excellent. Kathleen Thank you! Yes, Buffy makes Spike a bit soft. But not *too* soft, LOL, he's still got some bite. And I'm glad you like the way I'm developing their relationship. They're already very comfortable around each other, but there is still a feeling of new. Thanks for reviewing! Inwen 10/24/2008 05:34 pm 69 Connections Excellent chapter, yay for being back! Thank you! And it's good to be back! This update was a lovely surprise. It's wonderful to see Buffy acknowledging what Spike has given up for her and making sure he knows how happy he's made her. They really do communicate! Yay for communication! LOL. But I think sometimes in fics Buffy comes across as thinking that it's her right to have Spike stop killing for her, so she never really appreciates how big a deal it actually is for him. Thanks for reviewing! I love this story! i really hope you update again soon! i normally read this on fan fiction, but then i noticed this and hadn't read it... so now i have, and jolly glad i did! loved this! it was excellently written! cant wait for more! =] Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! (Yeah, I usually end up putting up chapters on FFN a day or so later.) SunshineSlayer 10/24/2008 11:08 am 69 Connections lovee it absolutely another AMAZING chapter. cant wait for more SSxox Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Z 10/24/2008 09:38 am 69 Connections racy...funny...sweet...all in one chapter. You write so delightfully....wit and humor, yes, but there's something else...affection. The love scenes are not over written (not that there's anything wrong with that, some days just call for long and lovely spuffy smut...haha), but for this story and this chapter, it just hits the right tenor. I check this story for updates all the time...and I've never met a chapter I didn't enjoy. I love their exchanges, and how you use dialog to unfold both the story and the complexity of the character (particularly spike), moving it at a fast clip, rather than long expository paragraphs telling us how they feel. I love that Spike is a lot sweeter, but you never lose him to the point where it becomes cringeingly so, and he never quite loses his edge. And Buffy's the way cool girlfriend I wish she could have been sometimes during a certain season in canon. ; ) Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Well, since Buffy and Spike didn't have sex for so long, they need some, LOL. And I'm not opposed to Spuffy smut, either, and since they're actually together now, I figure they'll be having sex all the time. But I won't be going into details and will probably gloss over it in a paragraph or two each time, because 1, this fic is only rated R, and 2, this fic is going to go on long enough without extra sex chapters added in, LOL. Also, I've found that dialogue is my thing. I can describe events and such if I need to, but I'd rather have the characters talking to each other about what they're thinking than to have each of them thinking about how they feel. And I like a Spike who doesn't lose his edge, who's even still a little bit dangerous, even if he is in love with Buffy. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! this is by far my favorite story the relationship of buffy and spike progresses slowly they arent together in the sex way for a while but there is an intimicy that you cant deny you played it very well i think that is one of the most beliveable story out there thankyou so much for you commitment and dedication of this piece of art Thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking it! I have tried to build up their relationship slowly and naturally. Thanks for reviewing! Nell 10/24/2008 07:03 am 69 Connections I'm so glad you found the time to update this. The relationship does feel quite "real" -- and it's nice that Spike still gives off an older-man vibe. Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Well, Spike *is* much older, LOL... Sigh. :-) 05/17/2010 12:25 am 68 Vows :) thomasann 10/22/2008 12:15 am 68 Vows love this story and can't for next chapter. hope it will be soon. It should be up in a day or two, actually. :) Thanks for reviewing! Hi! I can certainly understand you wanting (and needing) to take a break from writing because you've been very consistent about putting out a chapter or more every week. That is a huge time commitment on your part. So enjoy your time back in the real world! But I do want you to know that your story is fantastic, and I miss my weekly dose of your creativity. So come back refreshed and ready to write--but most important, just remember to come back!!!! (This is too good to be left a WIP forever!) Don't worry about it being a WIP forever. I know every unfinished-WIP-author says that, but I couldn't get away from this thing if I tried, LOL. It would haunt me until I finished it, constantly playing unwritten scenes in my head. (This is somewhat true, I tend to 'hear' lines over and over until I write them down.) I'm also working on a one shot about how Wesley met Spike, which is all your fault. :) I'm not exactly sure when I'll have the next Sideways chapter, but I've got the story all planned out until the end, with all the little scenes I've already written in the right order, so that's progress! sirc 09/25/2008 06:05 pm 68 Vows Well done Thank you! Well, that last sentence makes bad things happening a given. Why is everyone so convinced they aren't going to be happy, LOL? :) Thanks for reviewing! Even when he's agreeing to do what she wants they still have to have an argument about it--I guess it just wouldn't be them if they made it easy, would it? But they got there in the end. Very nicely done! Yeah, they had to have a little argument. And a little misunderstanding at first, since Spike has never said anything that indicates he's considering stopping killing. But they got there! Glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing! Deb 09/17/2008 03:25 am 68 Vows Fantastic chapter. The culmination of all that effort so wonderfully orchestrated into submission into each others worlds. Lovely. Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! sharon matheny 09/17/2008 01:25 am 68 Vows I have been coming back to this site just for this story. I have enjoyed it from the start, and I have really loved the last few chapters. I can understand your wanting to take a break, and I hope it is good for you. I will be looking forward to the next installment, the last chapter was awesome! Thanks for all the hard work sharonhi@noa.nintendo.com Thank you for the compliments! I'm glad you're liking the story so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed the last few chapters. They were a lot of fun to write, as Buffy and Spike finally came together. lovely place to take your break. very good read, thank you. Thank you so much! ya_lublyu_tebya 09/15/2008 07:40 pm 68 Vows Aww, yay. That was beautiful. I hope nothing comes along to ruin it. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! i gotta say thanks for the AWESOME birthday present!! lovee it amazing amazing amazing! cant wait for more! SSxox Well, Happy Birthday! I'm glad you liked the chapter! Thanks for reviewing! Z 09/15/2008 08:10 am 68 Vows Breathless and speechless. This is just genius... “God, why can’t we have sex without fighting afterward? It’s like make-up sex, but in reverse.” She sniffled and looked away again. ...didn't think this was a chapter that would still make me smile, but that phrase did it. please tell me you're writing another story...because I'm pretty attached to this one, and I'll be sad when it ends. Thank you so much! And I'm glad you liked the 'make-up sex' line! One one hand, I'll be sad when this ends, but on the other, it seems like I've been writing it forever, so I'm sort of ready for it to end. But I am writing other stories after this one. I've got one with a vampire Spike and a human Buffy, but it will be nice and short, and nothing like what I've got going on here. Possibly another vamp Spike and human Buffy, and then (if I can ever find the time to watch season 4 and 5 and take arc and plot notes) an epic that will go off from canon. oh yay! happiness for our fav couple! but i have the feeling things are far from over.... great, wonderrful chappie! Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Wow, there were a lot of emotions in this chapter... Love the slow burn as they go from fighting each other to wanting each other, and the sex that followed was nice and hot. :) When they started arguing, I thought they were gonna ruin things, just when they were so close! Glad they worked it out in the end there. Glad you liked the chapter! Yes, it was time for some nice and hot sex... And a little argument to spice it up of course! But it was time for them both to finally resolve some things. Thanks for reviewing! yay, happiness! another super awesome chapter. thanks for the update! Thank you! Glad you liked it! Pam S 09/14/2008 11:54 pm 68 Vows Decisions made.. and yes for us .. not a big thing. But it is a change in who he is .. that a heartless vampire can feel that much love to give up being himself. But? Was that the Angel position he had her trapped in ? She's going to have to figure a way out.. head butt didn't work last time I think.. And thanks ... Ahhhhhh.... I assume it is break time.. Yes, Spike is definitely making a change for Buffy, and it is a large change for him. I'm glad you liked the chapter! No, when Angelus had her he grabbed and bit her from behind. She was on the ground, and he was kneeling and dragged her up against him. And yes, it is break time. Not a bad place to leave it, I think... Thanks for reviewing! oh it was just so good finally they are together again i love it have a great break adn come back and right more ya you deserve the break Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Congrats on your well-deserved awards - it's a terrific story with refreshingly original Spike and Buffy. They actually communicate! Thank you so much! Yep, they communicate, and they still have angst. But less now. :) I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for reviewing! Yummy. How she ever resisted Spike is unknown to me. Hehe! Yes, he would be rather hard to resist. Thanks for reviewing! spike has just about convinced himself. fine read, thank you. Yes, Spike is considering things carefully... Yeah, they're always going to keep coming back to that question. Sounds like Spike's starting to waver, though, which hopefully will make things easier for Buffy... He's wavering, he's wavering... Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 09/11/2008 06:56 pm 67 Deliberations Wow, that was a heartbreaking and beautiful chapter. Spike's so torn between his two choices. A great insight into his feelings and his desperation. I look forward to the last update before you enjoy your well-earned break. Thank you so much! Yes, Spike has a decision to make...it's not as easy as just saying he'll quit. Glad you liked it! Spike is wise to give serious thought to what means most to him -- no competition really, is there? Excellent chapter... as always! Yes, Spike is definitely leaning in the Buffy direction... No competition anymore. Glad you liked it! 09/11/2008 12:20 pm 67 Deliberations A living, dying body thrashing against him. A willing, pliant body beneath him. The rush of the hunt, the struggle. The peace of a warm girl settled in his arms. Nicely put. Thank you so much! Glad you liked those lines! Zia 09/11/2008 09:30 am 67 Deliberations You are too good! You make me laugh and you make want to cry. Compelling even as it kills me...ouchy. Thank you for the compliments! Glad you liked it! another absolutely AMAZING chapter!! i love it!! seriously. cant wait for more! SSxox Thank you so much! Leanne 09/11/2008 04:45 am 67 Deliberations Ah - choices. Spike always has to make this choice. It's very cool how you've brought him to this decision. I hope I can learn patience until you're able to finish this story! Thank you! I'm glad you like the way I've brought Spike around to thinking about not killing. He just needed a little push and a little wake up call. Thanks for reviewing! Very perceptive, Willow. Let's just see how Spike resolves his dilemma. I love this, and I'm going to miss it. Please don't leave us panting long! Yes, Spike has a decision to make... I think he's pretty close, though. Thanks for reading! loved all of spikes emotions in this chappie! beautifully done! Thank you so much! Yup that's our Spike alright. He will turn himself inside out if necessary, reinvent what a vampire is, become whatever is required just to be near her and have her regard. That was true in canon and true in your story. Really a lovely chapter with Buffy conversing with WIllow (enjoy this relationship here BTW...Willow is as she was about Angel on the show...open to possibilities, rooting for love). Spike analyzing himself and what is required as he does physical inventory of Buffy was pitch perfect too. Excellent in every way. Kathleen Thank you so much! Yes, Spike will do whatever is needed for Buffy. I had to make him work a little harder with the decision, since in canon, he'd had the chip for a year and was already used to not killing (even if it wasn't his choice). I think for any pre-chip or AU fic, it must be completely his decision, and it will be a hard decision, not something he does the drop of a hat, or something that is easy just because Buffy wants it. It's more than a change of diet, it's his nature. Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! So sad but unavoidible Spike needs to make a desition soon hope he makes the right one and follow his heart spike is sucha loving charactor that he captures the hearts of everyone i belive that he is one of the best charactors ever invented anyway thanks for the wonderful chapter have a great break I think Spike is close to making a decision... He's realized what having Buffy means, and what it would be like without her. Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! Three little words. *sigh* I'm such a sap. Loved the chapter. Thank you so much! great scene to end a very good update, thank you. looking forward to buffy's response. I'm glad you liked it! 09/10/2008 01:51 am 66 Declarations FINALLY! I mean... yeah. Can't wait for more!! Yep, finally! :) Thank you! Ahhhhhh he's said it and may not even realize he has done so. Nice slip there. I think she is very effected by not just those words but realizing how long he has clearly had feelings for her given that he protected her at no charge. Excellent update. Kathleen Glad you liked Spike's little slip. Yes, Buffy is realizing what she means to him, and what she has meant. Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 09/08/2008 06:36 pm 66 Declarations I kinda forgot he hadn't said that yet. Bless. Hope Buffy doesn't freak out too much. Yep, Spike has not uttered the three words until now. Of course, he's already said it in so many other ways... Don't worry, Buffy won't be freaking too much. Thanks for reviewing! sirc 09/08/2008 01:08 pm 66 Declarations Great chapter! Thank you! A forthright Buffy is a rare treat, Wes certainly knows the score now. And more tenderness between her and Spike! The Faith dream was a clever contrast, making the whispered declaration just perfect. sigh.... Thank you so much! Glad you liked Spike's little confession! Gigi 09/08/2008 08:22 am 66 Declarations Hell of a place to leave this. Pardon me while I go off in a corner and squee. I had to stop somewhere, LOL, it was getting long. Thanks for reviewing! oh my god...YAY!!! SPIKE IS SUCH A CUTIE... he can be so confidant and out there and and yet at the same time so shy! love it seriously AMAZING cant wait for more! SSxox Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Lea 09/08/2008 05:01 am 66 Declarations Aw, so breathtaking. I will wait with bated breath (is that right?) for the next part, even if it takes a few weeks! Well, I have two more chapters to post before I take a little break. Glad you enjoyed this chapter! declarations indeed! lovely update, as always. will be waiting after you are done getting things together of course. Thank you! Glad you liked it! Leaving us with a wonderful new chapter - look forward to the next one - Have a good rest and enjoy doing something different. Thanks much for being so regular with your posting - we all appreciate being able to read your fine story without long interruptions. Glad you liked the chapter! Thank you for the kind words and thanks for reviewing! Deb 09/08/2008 02:17 am 66 Declarations Lovely update. Thank you for your routine updates for this past year. I have greatly enjoyed being able to check on it and see a lovely new episode. Take your time for RL and we'll be looking forward to new chappies when you are ready! Thank you! Though I do still have two chapters two post before my 'vacation.' Glad you liked the chapter and thanks for reviewing! fangfaceandrea 09/08/2008 02:03 am 66 Declarations Well even if she got scared , good to see Buffy sticking up for Spike to wes and Dream!Faith Buffy will do a bit more OMG Ya he finaly said he loved her wonder what Buffy will do about it so Spike Finaly reasises his love for Buffy i love them together Yep, he said it! Glad you liked the chapter and thanks for reviewing! I love it when Faith shows up to stir the pot. Great chapter! I can't help but think that leaving the window open has some significance. Symbolically AND practically. Just a little Faith every now and then... Hmm, there might be something to the window... Thanks for reading! :-) 05/16/2010 09:54 pm 65 Evenings :) Zia 09/05/2008 09:12 am 65 Evenings Even when they're being sweet or serious, they're still funny. I'm lovin' the sense of humor in this piece. Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Gigi 09/03/2008 11:25 pm 65 Evenings I love how you portray these two. A lot of stories overplay the drama of a couple (*cough*Bangel*cough*). On the other hand, you've taken what is inherently a "star-crossed love" and made it a very sweet, real thing. You don't skirt over their issues (I hate it when authors do that), but you still don't let that take away from the calm, loving way that the two of them interact. I admit that I'm a horrible reviewer (I never seem to know what to say), but I've been reading this story from the first couple chapters, and have reread it at least five times. So please keep up with your wonderful writing! Well, thank you for reviewing! But don't worry about not knowing what to say. Every review is appreciated, even a simple, "Great chapter!" And wow, five times?! I'm flattered you've reread it that much. I'm glad you like how I've handled the relationship between Buffy and Spike. They have enough real issues that there's no room for drama, LOL. But I don't think I can do drama for the sake of drama anyway. There has to be drama there between them already, not drama there because I'm creating drama to mess with them, if that makes any sense. And I'm glad you like the way I'm handling the issues between them. They have something very real, in spite of being a vampire and a Slayer. Thanks for reviewing! 09/02/2008 08:47 am 65 Evenings They are sooooo adorable...and that account of the kissage...well....sigh....you know what I like about their moments alone, they are sweet and intimate but never cloying; you always just know when to stop before they get to that point, which is quite remarkable. Thank you so much for the compliments! I think that doing everyday things, and the casual moments that are laced with feeling can be just as intimate as lots of gushing. Even when I gush, I don't think I really gush. But you can tell me if I do or not in about three chapters or so, because there's more intimacy coming up... Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 09/01/2008 08:43 pm 65 Evenings Awwww. The picture- taking was so sweet. I love your Buffy and Spike. They're the sweetest trying-not-to-be-a couple ever. Glad you liked the picture bit! As for the couple thing, they might not be trying-not-to-be for much longer... caraway_ 09/01/2008 02:13 pm 65 Evenings A lovely, subtle chapter. Thank you! AHH!! AMAZING!!! completely!! i LOVE it!! totally lovee it cant wait for more! SSxox Thank you so much! that was so cute! them being all domestic, the hair, the kiss, the picture. love it. but of course, the peace will not last long, will it? anyways, lovely chappie! Hmm, the peace might last longer than you think... Glad you liked their little evening! Thanks for reviewing! NICE Chapter - like the simplicity of their evening - doing just simple yet very intimate things together. Photo is a nice touch. Spike wouldn't bleach his hair with just anyone, LOL. I think things like this are intimate in a way, since you're sort of showing your 'real' self with no cover. Glad you liked and thanks for reviewing! Yah they kissed o well so sweet very good chapter love it when you update they are just so cute together Glad you liked the kiss! Thanks for reviewing! This was such a lovely chapter! The domestic peace and connection was such a treat. They really connected and then you ended it on a physical reflection of exactly that....lovely stroke! She is starting to "get" that he is a vampire but not a monster and he is already so besotted he's becoming human again. Nothing but good here. Love all the little touches from his foot and leg massage to the hair coloring and nail painting all the way through to the important and serious conversation. Excellent. Kathleen Thank you so much! Yes, Buffy and Spike are definitely connecting... Buffy is making her peace with Spike's past, she knows what he done. What really matters to her is what he will do. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Seth 09/01/2008 12:16 am 65 Evenings Exellent as usual, i find moments like these between Spike and Buffy the best, just so personal and focused on them. Thank you! Glad you liked it! fangfaceandrea 08/31/2008 11:30 pm 65 Evenings this chapter was pure pretty! and kinda sad too, Spike's nostalgia and for her are so transparent... Not too sad, I hope... Glad you liked the chapter! Thank you! :-) 05/16/2010 09:42 pm 64 Touches :) ya_lublyu_tebya 08/29/2008 03:30 pm 64 Touches Awww, that was lovely. Glad they made up and he looked after her. Bless. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! 08/29/2008 09:27 am 64 Touches aw aweet...and thickly churned tension...nice. I really like the B/S characterization,richly layered, and cruel Spike from the last chapter (re: killing darla) was absorbing. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thank you so much! omg amazing!!! i reviewed on another site, but just wanted to tell you again i love it. cant wait for more! SSxox Thank you so much! I hope you keep enjoying it! Aww, good talk. Or good start, at least, since they probably still have a dozen other issues to work out. But still a nice moment for them. Only half a dozen issues... Actually, only one major issue. :) Glad you liked the chapter! think their going to need more than an embrace. excellent read, thank you. Glad you liked it! fangfaceandrea 08/28/2008 02:18 am 64 Touches awwwwwwwww 'nuf said Thank you! so so so good i just love it great work very well done i just love spike Glad you liked it! :-) 05/16/2010 09:38 pm 63 Reports :) Good chapter! I must have missed it when it was first posted. “Angelus did kill the woman I loved. He killed her before I met her, but…” Heh... he had me confused with that bit, too. I was wondering if I'd missed something in an earlier chapter. I'm sure Giles is getting suspicious now, which will only make things more interesting as he tries to find out more about Spike. And Buffy's right that Angelus will be gunning for them now... but then again, he was pretty much doing that before... Hehe, Spike can be tricky. But nope, no other women in his life. Giles may be a bit suspicious, but Spike's not going to be seeing him a lot, so it might take him a bit to get more suspicious. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! sirc 08/27/2008 11:16 am 63 Reports Great chapter! Thank you! i hope he tells buffy he loves her soon it seemed like he was going to tell her but decided not to i love this story hope you update soon i Something will be happening soon... Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 08/24/2008 01:04 pm 63 Reports Awww, very sweet. Look forward to more. Thank you! I really like this Spike - so ruthless and so caring. Thank you! I like my Spike a little dangerous, even if he's completely in love with Buffy. Interesting that they are arguing about who gets to kill Angelus, when they aren't really at that point, yet. Don't count your chickens, kids. Well, Spike might be there, yet. :) Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 09:32 pm 62 Reckonings :) This chapter was just delicious! Loved this: Quite simply, something had snapped. and this: She was a scream, and then she was nothing. And Spike's gone and done it now. It's full on war, I'm thinking. Thank you so much! ya so this is one of my favorite stories out there i usally dont like stories like this one where they meet before the show but this is just amazing i look for updates aleast twice a day good job with spike excelent portrale sorry cant really spell Thank you so much! I know AUs aren't everyone's thing, so I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it! Ruh-roh! I had the feeling someone was gonna bite it here (well, okay, I gleaned it from your fanfic meme), but cold, vengeful Spike is a whole new thing. He's usually the type to fling himself headlong at Angelus, rash and impulsive, looking for a fight... not calculated like this. I'm wondering if this change is permanent, and how Buffy's gonna feel about it. Either way, it doesn't bode well for them, as he's only renewed Angelus' determination to take them both down. Whee! P.S. I am totally spamming your inbox today... Oops, maybe I should have posted the meme later. Though, I didn't say which vampire was going to die... Yes, Spike is cold and vengeful here, though this Spike had been a bit cold and vengeful before when it came to someone after Buffy. And while calculated, maybe it was rash to kill Darla, since Angelus will start a whole other game (though not one you might expect). For now, Angelus is regrouping. Thanks for reviewing! fine read, thank you. spike has learned well. Thanks for reviewing! fangfaceandrea 08/14/2008 04:58 am 62 Reckonings wow revenge-y Spike is scary. and awesome. and now the ante's up, so I'm guessing things will only get uglier. great chapter very intense XD Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, things will get ugly, but not for a bit. Angelus will be regrouping... Leanne 08/14/2008 02:11 am 62 Reckonings Wow - that is the first time in a long tim that I was actually scared of Spike. Conroled anger is not something you see from him very often. Excellent chapter! Glad I could make you afraid, LOL. Yes, Spike was certainly ruthless enough... Thanks for reviewing! oh, love the darkness in this chappie. well done. such a spike thing. though now angelus is gonna want revenge too... *sigh* this is gonna be good though... i can tell. Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Oh dear...hope Dru doesn't give away Spike being safe from the sun! Gah...she makes too much sense to those who listen. Gotta say I love this chapter. Cold, very very cold but understandable. Spike picked the perfect revenge but we all know it is far from over. This just upped the ante be millions. Angelus will be out for blood and more. You could FEEL the rage encased in ice with Spike and the mounting terror of Darla. Really very well written sequence. Excellent! Kathleen Yes, Dru is getting a clue to what's going on. Whether Angelus listens or not is another matter... He will be out for blood and more, but he's going to be quiet for a bit, doing his own evil plans and regrouping. Thank you for the compliments on the Spike and Darla scene! Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! TwilightChild 08/13/2008 10:27 pm 62 Reckonings Ohhhh, nice and cold! Angel got a taste, and Darla is gone. Gotta love it. And I do love it. Great job. :) One down, two to go... Yes, Spike got his revenge. Thanks for reviewing! Uh oh. This escalation of hostilities is bound to get ugly. Intricate webs of torture and gamesmanship can get so tangled. I hope our heroes don't suffer too much. Not too much suffering, until it all comes down to it... Thanks for reviewing! Brilliant chapter. That was a smart move by Spike, and he was suitably relentless. Angelus will be crazed now and careless. MORE SOON PLEASE!!!! Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! ya_lublyu_tebya 08/13/2008 08:39 pm 62 Reckonings Excellent chapter. Spike's revenge was chilling but oh so good. Look forward to more. Thank you so much! :-) 05/16/2010 09:25 pm 61 Ruins :) I'm really looking forward to seeing what Spike does. :) He's planning something... Thanks for reviewing! i know my comments tend to be short but the last review is a record even for me. love how you ended that chapter and the image you left us with the ending of this chapter. very good read, thank you. The review box does weird things sometimes, LOL. Glad you liked the chapter! Brilliant chapter - very dramatic. Spike is ready to kick some serious ass and Angelus is underestimating him. Can't wait for more. Thank you so much! Yes, Angelus doesn't seem to be expecting much from Spike... Glad you enjoyed the chapter! ya_lublyu_tebya 08/10/2008 11:40 am 61 Ruins Oh, Spike is going to kick some ass! I look forward to it. Glad you enjoyed it! Cas 08/10/2008 04:19 am 61 Ruins Love the suspense you've added tho this. And how everyone is covering for Spike with Giles. If Giles ever actually talked to Wesley, he'd know what was up. Glad you're enjoying it! Well, Wesley would be able to tell him about Buffy's past with Spike, but Wes also doesn't know that Spike came to Sunnydale. Thanks for reviewing! Heh. Loved this: Buffy tried to look concerned. Angelus is going to regret his very existence by the time Spike is done with him, I'll bet. Glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! Kamw220 08/10/2008 02:40 am 61 Ruins Excellent! Keep them coming Thank you! Oh oh....pissed Spike is on the move. I think Angelus is in for trouble, more than he can imagine since he can't really imagine love. Buffy should be a bit nervous for Spike since he might take chances as angry as he is. Glad Willow kept still. Great update. Kathleen Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, Angelus has no idea what Spike might do... Thanks for reviewing! Ann 08/10/2008 12:28 am 61 Ruins YES! We're getting into some great action and I know when the chips are down and emotions are running high, Buffy might realize some truths. I wonder what Spike is carrying and what is going to happen next and---Ah, I can't wait to read more! Please update soon! This was a great chapter and I think having teh actual rescue in flashbacks with Spike's feelings after he'd made sure Buffy was safe was perfectly done. Great job. Well, they both might be realizing some truths. As for what Spike is carrying, it's nothing as horrible as you might imagine, though that's not to say that something horrible won't be happening. I'm glad you liked the way the chapter was structured. For some reason, it just seemed right to open it with Spike bringing Buffy to Giles's, and then have what happened with Angelus told from Spike's POV. Thanks for reviewing! 07/02/2010 02:00 am 60 Breaks :) :-) 05/16/2010 09:03 pm 60 Breaks :) wtrees 08/09/2008 10:09 am 60 Breaks "For some reason, the whole dramatic exit (though slightly less dramatic because she’d gone into the bathroom first)... " Haha... Spuffy arguing is so amusing...canon-ish, something about the tone Thank you! Canon-ish is good, especially since I'm doing an AU, LOL. Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! caraway_ 08/07/2008 12:18 pm 60 Breaks way to cliffhanger!!! Hehe, thank you! oh crap! spike better come to the rescue! now-ish would be good!!!!!!! excellent chappie! spuike and buffy serious got some things to work out, dont they. nice dru btw. many authors can't get her right. i think you got her pretty good. Thank you for the compliments on Dru! There's a fine line between having her sound like a random crazy person, and having her sound like crazy Dru. I've tried very hard on her lines to get that balance between insanity and those rare bits of clarity she has. As for the rescue, next update coming soon! Glad you enjoyed! What an exciting update - they finally have come to the crossroads - Great to get another update on this wonderful story - Thank you so much! Glad you liked it! Hoo boy. The Scourge has been so patient, that I'm sure Angelus isn't going to want this over so soon. Right? And anyway, Buffy 'fessed up: “I thought we could have a future together.” Which I understand as 'I wish we had a future together', which Spike no doubt understands, as well. Not sure what you're asking by "soon"... This won't be the final battle, and Angelus will be content to play now and draw it out some more. Then several things will happen that will make him be quiet for a bit and regroup and rethink. As for Buffy's line, she does wish that they had a future together, but at one time (maybe not necessarily after their last talk), she did think that they could have a future, that he would stop killing just because she wanted it. Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 08/06/2008 08:56 pm 60 Breaks Oh my God!! Spike better be about to make a dramatic rescue! Please fix it, all of it!! Hehe, you'll have to wait and see! Thanks for reviewing! oh dear...you just know Spike will be there in time. Silly buffy to push but the issue is real. Will have to be dealt with in time. Kathleen Sort of predictable cliffhanger, I suppose. But it was a really good place to leave it. :) Glad you liked the chapter! The cavalry had better get there pronto. That was a good fight, though having assistance rather dims Angelus' victory. More soon please. True, but I doubt if Angelus cares if he's fighting fair... Thanks for reviewing! fangfaceandrea 08/06/2008 06:20 pm 60 Breaks well... fuck! The thing is, Buffy is right, she won't be able to stant the thought of Spike killing and somehow he has to undersatand or leave for good. Yes, Bufy and Spike still have some issues... Thanks for reading! :-) 05/16/2010 03:33 pm 59 Talks :) I liked this: “No worries, Red. Tell you what. As a personal favor, from me to you, I’ll give you a heads up before I go off the diet.” LOL! Glad you liked it! oh Spike.....it is so much easier to collect flies with honey than vinegar! It would helop you so much to make a friend of WIllow. Kathleen Hehe, Spike's a bad boy. Thanks for reviewing! ATHENA606 08/05/2008 08:41 pm 59 Talks badbad spike LOL I LOVE IT. Thank you! I like how Spike isn't totally whupped by Buffy, makes a nice change. Hehe, some people seem to like non-Buffy-whipped Spike, and some don't. I like my Spike a little dangerous, even as he's getting whipped. And he is, but he's not there yet. :) Thanks for reviewing! Very nice 'girltalk'. Loved the one night=one time understanding. I really thought Spike was gonna butter up the witch, but his need to play the predator just can't be stifled. He's just not getting the concept of how to treat your girlfriends' friends. Strange, since he was always so decent to Joyce. Hehe, Joyce and Spike have a mystical bond, LOL. But then, Joyce doesn't know Spike's a vampire. Not saying that he'll bother her like he did Willow, but he might not be able to resist teasing her slightly when she finds out. Thanks for reviewing! sara 08/05/2008 05:42 am 59 Talks Part of me likes your spike, but then the other part of me doesn't. i know this spike at least likes buffy enough to help her out, but like buffy said, it's not enough. this isn't the spike that is so in love with her that he would change his ways, but i am hoping he would eventually become that spike. i don't want him to go back to the killing after the whole thing with angelus is resolved, because i just don't see buffy letting him go if he decides to kill again, she might realize that she has to kill him instead. i'm just hoping she'll soon be enough to get him to not wanna go back to his old ways. Well, without saying anything too spoilery, I think the process of Spike deciding to change is a long one. On the show, by the time he was in love with her, he had already been forced to stop killing. Stopping killing by choice, I think, is more than just deciding to get his blood from somewhere else, it's fundamentally altering what he is. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you keep reading! We'll get there, I promise. :) :-) 05/16/2010 03:26 pm 58 Discoveries :) Loved it. Sorry I'm not all with the thinky thoughts and digging deep into the meanings of your chapters and saying exactly what I like with all my reviews. Thanks for reviewing! Cas 08/02/2008 07:23 am 58 Discoveries Should be an interesting explaination. Thanks for reviewing! An Excellent Update - like how you presented their fighting together and their Slayer Fighting Mode Pecking Order - Thank you! Glad you liked! I guess things were getting a bit too cosy - that was a cracking spat! Buffy should just give it straight to Willow, she's a big girl and can cope. Yeah, time to liven things up a little with Buffy and Spike. Thanks for reviewing! very good chapter, thank you. the explanation should be entertaining. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading! Hee. Spike didn't really turn on the charm for Willow, did he? Pretty good first fight/spat. They both have good points. I do wonder what'll happen when Buffy is outed. Yeah, Spike's not really caring about how he comes off to Willow, or anyone that isn't Buffy, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! fangfaceandrea 07/31/2008 09:58 pm 58 Discoveries oh good, upcoming secrets angst . And lovely as Spuffy is when they're fluffy, this fight was just perfect to spice things up a bit. Hehe, glad you liked their fight! Because it can't always be fluffy Spuffy... Thanks for reviewing! Ohh, this is going to be an interesting conversation... Can't wait. Great update. Yes, Buffy has some explaining to do... Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 03:10 pm 57 Whispers :) Lea 09/08/2008 04:20 am 57 Whispers Oh *sniffle* I adore this story. I've read for a few hours now, love it, love it, love it. It's so heartfelt. Thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking it! sands 07/31/2008 11:01 am 57 Whispers I just zipped through the entire story...your pacing is incredible..love the spuffy slow burn too.. Thank you so much! It's nice to know I've written a "page-turner!" Glad you liked it. Wow. More please. Hot and sweet and perfect. I got a dose of about 5 chapters in one go and it was awesome. I love where this is going. Thank you so much! Glad you liked it! More coming soon, and thanks for reviewing! caraway_ 07/26/2008 11:55 am 57 Whispers I'm continuing to like Buffy and Spike's slowly unfolding intimacy. They are certainly more in love at this point than either is willing to admit. I wonder what will move them forward? Thank you so much! Yes, there are things neither of them is saying. As for what will move them forward, maybe one of them getting hurt?..... Thanks for reviewing! That was an incredible conversation, so frank with each other. Delicious. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Deb 07/25/2008 10:42 am 57 Whispers Lovely intimate chapter. Thank you! Oh how sweet and tender. Love how he used words from the traditional marriage vow, "to have and to hold", in his response....I think that was no accident. He has taken her as spouse in all but official ways. Really romantic moment between them. Kathleen Glad you liked! Yes, the have and hold was no accident. I wonder what L-word he could have started to say instead of 'look after'? :) :-) 05/16/2010 03:02 pm 56 Rests :) Sirc 07/24/2008 11:04 pm 56 Rests Well done :) Thank you! excellent chapter, thank you. seems you have been influence by those evil authors who enjoy leaving evil endings to their chapters. very well done. again thank you. Aw, I've left cliffhangers before this. :) Glad you enjoyed and thanks for reviewing! IT 07/20/2008 09:58 pm 56 Rests Just caught up again. Wow, what a way to end it! I hope you continue the scene! Thanks for the story, it really is very interesting. Glad you liked it! The scene will continue, though not *exactly* from where it left off. Thanks for reviewing! notwhomever 07/19/2008 05:39 am 56 Rests you've turn the heat up to a lovely simmer, looking forward to the boil over. good job keeping your Spike believable while having him walk the fine line you've set him on Boil over will be coming, but not for a bit. Temperature will vary for a while. :) Thank you for the Spike compliments, and thanks for reviewing! Crushed Roses 07/18/2008 01:23 am 56 Rests Sweet! I love it. I've been reading for awhile and finally dec ided to reveiw. Sorry it took so long. You have a really good story and I love your take on things. Keepp up the good work! Well, nice to hear from you! I'm glad you're liking the story, and thanks for reviewing! Love the way he said just the right thing. He is so in tune with her really. The relationship with Willow is progressing nicely. Love your Oz voice...dead on. Kathleen Glad you like Oz! It took forever for me to figure out something for him to say... Hehe, Spike always knows what to say when there's a half-naked Buffy in the room. :) But yeah, he knew exactly what she was thinking. Thanks for reviewing! hehe. gotta love Oz. and good on Willow with the control. Oh, this is a new development in the Spuffy arena.... ^_^ great chappie. love it, as always Yes, the Spuffy is progressing... Glad you liked Oz; it took forever for me to get the right thing for him to say! As for Willow, I always thought if Giles had paid a bit more attention, she wouldn't have got to where she was in the show (and plot-wise, there's not enough room in this fic for Willow's issues as well...) fangfaceandrea 07/17/2008 04:11 pm 56 Rests wohh , that was hot. XD Hehe, glad you thought so! Phew, it's definitely getting hotter in here. Lovely update. Glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! Gah. Very hot in here. It's to be expected, with all that capital "B" Boyfriend talk he's been putting out there. This was a lovely chapter, with fun character bits from Oz, Willow, and Giles. But the end . . . did I mention it's getting awfully hot in here? Hehe, it is getting just a tad bit hot... Glad you liked Buffy and Spike's little moment. And glad you liked the Scoobies! Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 02:51 pm 55 Weapons :) loved the new chappie. love how spuffy's relationship is going. cool sparring scene. aw, buffy's hair. i think it shall forever be one of spike's weaknesses... ^_^ Thank you so much! Glad you liked it! Another great chapter. Spike definitely wants her strong: “When you [beat me], you’ll be bloody brilliant.” I hope the Oz watch doesn't go kablooey. One nit: Some of your the's have turned into they's. Whoops! I fixed it, thank you! Yes, Spike is serious about Buffy getting better... Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Leanne 07/10/2008 02:21 am 55 Weapons LOL! Poor Spike can never finish his story about fighting a werewolf. "I like your hair" - very sweet. Great story - keep writing! Thank you! Glad you liked it! Hehe, I guess we'll never know what happened with the werewolf... A sweet domestic (for a slayer and vampire -lol) scene that provides some exposition too. Hehe! Yeah, it's probably not domestic by anyone else's standards... Glad you liked it! fangfaceandrea 07/09/2008 08:12 pm 55 Weapons That was fun and sweet. Thank you! They are really so sweet together. Love this partnership and can't wait to see everyone's reaction once they are outed! She has the best possible sparring partner in Spike. She will be more than formidable when he is done with her. Kathleen Yep, Buffy will be in top form when she can go toe-to-toe with Spike... The "outing" is coming soon, I swear! :) It seems like I keep saying that (and thinking it to myself), but it's really almost here, LOL. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! I love your characterizations of Darla and Dru. With Dru going on and on and Darla turning her back on her. Could see it clearly in my mind. And it's nice to see Spike and Buffy doing the domestic thing. I like how they are evolving slowly. Thank you so much! Spike and Buffy are slowly getting closer... A lovely chapter. I like the interaction between Buffy and Spike, with him making all the 'boyfriend' moves, while she just follows along. Isn't that how it so often goes? Thank you! Glad you liked it! Hehe, Spike always seemed like a pretty good boyfriend... That was a sweet spell of domesticity. And the threatening three don't seem inclined to spoil it just yet. Not juuust yet, they aren't... Glad you liked it, and thanks for reviewing! Dru cracks me up. Enjoyed the domestic scene w/ Spike and Buffy this chappie. Oh, talks of keys eh? lol love it. Dru's fun, isn't she? :) Glad you liked Spike and Buffy's little domestic day. Thanks for reviewing! fun read. wish i spoke dru. angelus probably will wish he could too. Hehe, Angelus will pay attention to her eventually... Dang I forgot that Dru named that dog Snshine in canon (hum...interesting thought there...she handed it over to Spike to eat but he just pet it...never though of that before!). But back to your yummy story.... Love the domestic compatibility going on, they are actually nesting in a way...cute! Love his hand over her shoulder in the store. Nice way of announcing even to Buffy if she caught it correctly. The whole entering through the window (or offer to break in) was a hoot because he clearly had never considered just knocking or ringing the bell LOL. Such a vampire. Excellent. Kathleen Hehe, Dru with the dog in season 2 was so funny! Though we never found out what happened to it. I think she was holding it when Angelus started the ritual in Becoming... I like to think it ran away and found a nice home. Though I'm not sure my Sunshine/Molly will fare so well... I'm glad you liked Buffy and Spike's little domestic day. Though Spike is not too domestic, LOL, as he's still coming in the window. Thanks for reviewing! Pam S 06/29/2008 11:58 pm 54 Advances Welcome back... Still no pressure from Spike.. Food and a key for the apartment... for her. And the fight with Angelus or at least his minions begins.. Enjoying. Yes, now that things are going well with Buffy and Spike, it's time to throw Angelus back in... Glad you enjoyed! :-) 05/16/2010 02:21 pm 53 Stances :) "...it’s probably a phenomenally bad idea." i think buffy is wrong. probably a good idea with great potential. very good read, thank you. Well, she only thinks it's a bad idea because she thinks it will end badly... Glad you enjoyed! sirc 06/22/2008 07:52 pm 53 Stances Well done! Thank you! More, more, more... the chapters are taking too long :( You can't write such a good story and do that to your fans.. :P Well, if I hurry, it won't be as good. :) I'm glad you're liking it so much, though! Deb 06/18/2008 11:54 am 53 Stances Love the update. Really appreciate that Buffy is living in the here and now with Spike, but hope that his continued devotion to her and to keep to her restrictions on him will help her to overcome her sense of doom with the relationship. If she wants him and she can let herself be happy she's going to have to come to terms with who and what he is and be satisfied. Trying to change someone never works out, only they can change themselves. I think the same thing about change. It's too easy for Spike just to say that he'll stop, and somewhat unrealistic. It's more than just stopping eating a particular thing, it's stopping being what he is, what he's always been. If he changes, it has to be because he wants to, for whatever reason. Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 06/17/2008 05:26 pm 53 Stances I had one hour of internet time and about a hundred updates to choose from - this one won :-) Another brilliant chapter. Very emotional and sweet. Look forward to more. Aw, well I'm flattered you chose mine! I'm glad you liked the update, and thanks for reviewing! Oh yes bring in the New Year the right way! Got a feeling Giles' prophecy is going to clue him in about Spike....the jig will be up then....of course I'm surprised Wesley hasn't told him already. Nice update! Love pool shark Spike and it was nice to see him at it. RL is always more important so no problem but will be happy with updates when you can. Kathleen Well, Wesley is doing what he thinks is best, which sometimes doesn't work out for the best. As for the prophecy, you'll just have to wait and see... :) Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reviewing! Awwww - a lovely and very likely make-up scene. So much left unsaid and yet out there. :) Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! Laura 06/14/2008 05:49 am 53 Stances i think I see smoochies in the future. Hehe, you'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 06/14/2008 05:16 am 53 Stances Good chapter. Very erotic scene at the end without anything overt at all. Thank you! Glad you liked it! :-) 05/16/2010 02:16 pm 52 Reflections :) "Not that she was particularly trying to take some high moral stand for the sake of being good. It was simply that she’d feel sick watching TV with him after he’d been out doing some casual murder. Simply that she might retch as he kissed her, if she had to wonder whose life had ended on his lips that night." I love this section - Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! sad buffy. shame she doesn't have a bit more confidence in spike. very good read, thank you. Well, he did tell her just the night before that he wanted to kill later... Glad you liked it, thanks for reviewing! aw, sadness! poor buffy. choices, choicse. rather angsty, dont ya think? suppose its realistic. good job, once again! ~liz Yeah, there's some angst. But things will get better. Glad you liked it! ya_lublyu_tebya 06/08/2008 06:24 pm 52 Reflections Ohhh, some interesting thoughts. Sad that she's so convinced it'll end in heartache. I really hope it doesn't. And well done on the nominations! Totally deserved! Thank you! Well, it doesn't look too bright from Buffy's perspective right now, but it will get better, I promise! Thanks for reviewing! One thing she doesn't know about Spike yet is that once he wants something he does EVERYTHING needed to get it and for her love and commitment he will reinvent what a vampire is and does if necessary. Lovely and realistic view of Buffy's dilema. Kathleen Oh, Spike will be doing everything. :) He just needs a little push/wake up call. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 01:27 pm 51 Lines :) Lovely chapter. The dialog was very good, with Spike being both open and intractable, no mean feat, and Buffy striving to make the square peg fit in her round life, a seemingly impossible task. I love Joyce teasing Buffy, too. She's a sly one. Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed their talk. And I always liked Joyce. Thanks for reviewing! Nielsen 06/03/2008 03:42 am 51 Lines This is a seriously impressive story. I especially love your characterizations, which (this may be heresy) are better than canon. Can't wait to read more! Thanks. Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much! it really is that simple, buffy. very good read, thank you. Thanks for reviewing! Another lovely update! Love Spike and his offer to just hold her in the dark. *swoon* Look forward to more. Well, Buffy did say that she liked it when Spike held her, so of course he offered! :) Glad you liked it! IT 06/01/2008 08:22 am 51 Lines Just caught up on a couple of chapters. Great as always, thanks! Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 05/31/2008 08:58 pm 51 Lines Still going strong. And I really like happy, supportive Joyce. Don't get to see it too often. Glad you think so! I'm always worried people will start getting bored, since I'm not wrapping things up any time soon. And glad you liked Joyce! Thanks for reviewing! Lovely update. Buffy needs to come to terms with what Spike is and Who he is as well. He is more than just what he eats. That will be an issue if he kills, yeah, but there is so much more to him than that. Spike needs to do the same...he must come to look at his vampiric needs from the Slayers viewpoint to understand her. Luckily or them both the emotional framework is there for them to want to do this. They are perfect for one another. I imagine if Buffy found out Spike killed the bad man who was after her she would be upset AT FIRST...after finding out that man's original plan she might not be that judgemental. Great update. Kathleen Yes, Buffy and Spike both need to see things from the other's point of view. Though I think that Buffy knows that Spike is more than what he eats, which is why it's so hard for her. She's seen the 'human' side to him, and knows how he can be with her. Even so, she couldn't stand to be with him if he was killing people. And Spike...what can I say, he just doesn't get it. Yet. Buffy will definitely be finding out that Spike killed Smith. I've already written it, it's just a matter of waiting (rather a long way, at this point) until it's time to put it in. Several things will be cleared up, and shades of gray will be realized. So glad you enjoyed, and thanks for reviewing! Buffy's non-snooping was fun - as was their slightly awkward chat. Joyce was super cool mom. Lovely chapter. Glad you liked Buffy's snooping! And Joyce! Thanks for reviewing! 05/31/2008 02:55 pm 51 Lines Buffy "not snooping" at Spike's was great. I loved the comment about the towels and "vampire bachelor quarters"
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! 07/01/2010 11:28 pm 50 Moments :) Sigh. :-) 05/16/2010 01:12 pm 50 Moments :) smokescreen 02/13/2009 05:14 pm 50 Moments beautiful. perfectly-written chapter. Thank you! I just loved this chapter and the brutal honesty of their talk - The Choice to change or not - that "hold me while you can" is a wonderful line. Spike's brutal and honest answer of "yes," - Powerful use of words. Well Done Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Yes, they both have some thinking to do... Deb 05/26/2008 11:55 pm 50 Moments Bittersweet. Thanks for reviewing! congratulations on the well deserved awards. very sad and very good read, thank you. Thank you so much! OH dear....painful honesty. I can so see both of their points here and it sums up the real problem between them. As long as he has no problem killing people she can't fully embrace him. Until he can see it from her perspective and actually alter his very nature it cannot be light and easy. THIS is angst built in. Lovely chapter filled with real meat and potatoes of the relationship mixed with lots of loving sweetener. Kathleen congratulations on the MUCH deserved awards Thank you for the congrats! Yes, the thing hanging in the air between Buffy and Spike is no longer hanging. And she has been thinking about what will happen after their agreement, even if she hasn't brought it up until now. Even though Spike cares for Buffy, he is still very much a vampire, and any sort of change will not be easy. Glad you enjoyed, and thank you so much for reviewing! You deserve more awards for this chapter alone--so bitter sweet. Joss forgot after Spike got chipped that he was a vampire. You never did; in this chapter your Spike shows that while he may care about Buffy, his essense is still pure vampire. You brought out some poignant truths in their conversation. I'm so curious as to how you are going to resolve it. Marvelous writing! Ah! I happen to be planning a season 4/5 fic that explores everyone forgetting that Spike is still a vampire after he gets chipped...but I digress. :) Yes, in this story, Spike may be falling for Buffy, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly changing what he is. Or even that he wants to. There will be more ups and downs before a resolution is reached... Glad you enjoyed, and thanks for reviewing! I love this conversation, so serious and honest. Let's hope they have something to build on. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! This was so beautiful and poignant. I wish it could be easy for them... You deserved every one of those awards, by the way! Thanks for another brilliant and heartbreaking update. Thank you so much! This chapter took so long to write, and was so up and down. Tender moment, harsh truth moment, tender moment, harsh truth moment... But since we're down now, we can start going back up again. Until we head down again. :) Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! PIn 05/24/2008 08:48 am 50 Moments Truly an amazing chapter. What an insight into what each of them holds important and what each of them can't change - such a gulf between them. Great writitng! Glad you liked it! Yes, they have a long way to go... Thanks for reviewing! Oh boy - if you hadn't already won some angst awards, this chapter would certainly have done it! And I never intended to write angst, I swear! Not angsty angst, anyway. But I guess 'Spike's a killer' + 'Buffy's not' = Instant Angst. :) Thanks for reviewing! Reb 05/24/2008 04:20 am 50 Moments Wow, Buffy actually trying to communicate. It's so very sweet to see them coming together, and then so very sad as they break apart again. Ta. Two steps forward, one step back...but they'll get there eventually. Glad you liked the chapter! Cas 05/24/2008 04:08 am 50 Moments Heartrending. Thanks for reviewing! fangfaceandrea 05/24/2008 04:07 am 50 Moments My this chapter was sexy and provocative. The intensity of it andsuch a sad realization at the end. this fic really is wonderful Thank you so much! Yes, they're having a sad moment, but there will be some ups soon. Glad you liked! :-) 05/16/2010 12:43 pm 49 Steps :) growing more and more connected. very good read, thank you. Glad you liked! Thanks for reviewing! Great chapter - is joyce doing drugs - hey mom I'm staying at Spike's tonight. As if. Hehe! Buffy's a college girl, just going over to her not-boyfriend's house, what's the problem? :) Thanks for reviewing! Lovely chapter. They're so sweet. And well done on winning- you definitely deserved it! Thank you so much! 05/18/2008 10:25 am 49 Steps Love... Thank you! Whoa....hot bities. I think Buffy is getting a bit from the payment too LOL. She's headed in the right direction as her concern for him shows...we know he loves her already. Loved him being VERY concerned about her being afraid of him. It really matters to him that she know he'd not hurt her under any circumstances. Excelllent and CONGRATULATIONS on the deserved awards. Kathleen If Buffy's not getting something from it, she soon will be, LOL. And Buffy will definitely be thinking about where her feelings for him lie in the next few chapters. Glad you liked Spike not wanting Buffy to be afriad of him (and a bit more on that in the next chapter). Thank you for the congrats, and thanks for reviewing! IT 05/17/2008 07:45 pm 49 Steps Awesome again! That was so sensual!! Sexual, too, but sensual. Wow, I'm craving his bite now. :) Thanks for the update. What, you weren't craving his bite before? :) Glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing! Leanne 05/17/2008 06:16 pm 49 Steps This story had made me come out of lurk mode to say "well done!" It really maps the developing of an honest - yet different - relationship. It builds an interesting case for Buffy to trust Sike, and yet includes those moments when she - wisely - has a moment of timid faith that a drunk Spike might not have the control a sober Spike has. I loved the fact that what stopped Spike from bitting her early in the night was her fear that he smelled more than her vocal request. While there is no denying there is a physical relationship involved, we're seeing two people who are growing to genuinely care for each other, beyond sex and "workplace" commonalities. Ah, lurk mode. I lived there for many a month. :) Thank you for taking the time to review. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much! And I'm glad you liked the bit about Spike not biting Buffy because he smelled that she was afraid. There will also be a more about that in the next chapter. Buffy and Spike are getting closer, besides the 'workplace relationship,' but they will still have some things to work out... Thanks for reading! I went down to Okinawa this week, an island of ghosts and magic, and asked a blessing for your broken laptop--I guess it worked!!! I'm so glad to see another chapter posted. I really like your approach to Buffy's reaction to Spike's bites. So often people write it as feel-good, sexy. But you make it a bit uncomfortable for Buffy; I like that because it shows such trust that she lets him bite her anyway and to the way he tries to be gentle when he does bite Buffy. It adds a lot of depth to their growing relationship. Domo arrigato! Ah, Okinawa, I'm so jealous. I want to go to Japan so bad! But thank you for the laptop blessing! I need all the help I can get. As far as the biting goes, I wanted to do something a bit different. There's the "sexy bites don't hurt, instant orgasm bite," which can be fun, but which doesn't leave room for much build up. Since I've got a weekly bite going, and am looking at a total 10 or so of the things, the instant orgasm bite didn't do it for me. Besides that I want to use the bites to bring them physically closer as they get emotionally closer. And strictly IMO, biting should hurt a little, it's cutting the skin. But Spike is very careful with Buffy. And as things progress, well, he can certainly do things during the biting that will make it hurt less..... I might not be doing sex!bites, but they will be getting sexier! Thanks for reviewing! 07/01/2010 11:23 pm 48 Shatters :) :-) 05/16/2010 12:34 pm 48 Shatters :) IT 05/06/2008 11:20 pm 48 Shatters Always the gentleman, even when drunk! He's such a softy, really, almost like a little boy, all curled up against his slayer. :) My favourite lines: “Did you drink all of those?” ... “’Cept for this ’un, yeah.” “That’s like…alcohol poisoning quantities. You should be dead.” Buffy looked at him. “Never mind.” “Can only get tha’ drunk over a woman.” And I can just see him, mouth watering, hovering over her throat, saying, “Jus’ a little, ’ll clear me right up.” lol Thanks for the update. Good luck with your laptop and hope to see another chapter soon! Biting next time, please?!? :) (Gotta feed my kink somehow!) 05/05/2008 01:32 am 48 Shatters I'm worried about Buffy after this chapter, for some reason... Even wasted he gets the concept of no. Let's see if Buffy shows up later or ends up injured. I like the more mature Buffy. Deb 05/03/2008 10:53 pm 48 Shatters Nice update. Hope you work out your laptop issues. Looking forward to more chappies. kamla 05/03/2008 04:52 pm 48 Shatters is it me or was the image of spike crawling up her body just plain hot! you are cruel to end it there. I really hope that you have the next installment waiting in the wing!! thank you for the update - nice Spike and Dru encounter - I will be sorry to see him have to be her killer. Well, nothing says that he WILL be her killer, only that he's willing to be if it comes down to her or Buffy. Lots of people could kill Dru, and I'll leave it at that. ;) Thanks for reviewing! Cas 05/03/2008 04:27 am 48 Shatters Poor Spikey - life is so hard. Is it just me, or does this not sound like a good plan? Aw, surely Buffy can handle one little patrol by herself.... Thanks for reviewing! I love the way you are slowly developing their relationship--just beautiful! I also couldn't help thinking about the famous bathroom scene; did you when you had Spike immediately cease his move for her blood as soon as Buffy said, "Stop."? Hey! Here's an idea; if you can't post a chapter next week; how about posting it early instead? (pretty please?!) I can't post early because I'm not that far ahead. Somehow I went from being 3 to 4 chapters ahead to half a chapter ahead. I need to get caught back up again. But if I can't work on it this week, well... Sorry! :( I didn't think of the bathroom scene when writing, but as soon as I'd written it I did. Which is why I went with "stop" instead of "no," which I think I wrote initially. ("No" brings up more negative images to me.) Of course, this Buffy trusts Spike and the only reason she thought she'd have to push him off was because he was drunk. Thanks for reviewing! Really love this bittersweet chapter more than I can say but worry about her patrol tonight....be Spike's luck for her to encounter Angelus and get hurt and then blame himself! Poor baby has reason to be drunk...yes it was his goodbye to Dru and that has to hurt on many levels. VERY telling that not only would he choose Buffy (how precious and endearing and how I hope she really GETS the whole meaning of that revelation) but the he was even more drunk thinking BUFFY was beyond his touch when she was called than in saying goodby to his long time love and sire! When he sobers perhaps he'll find himself finally beached on the shores of that Nile instead of deep in it! HE has to understand the implications even if Buffy doesn't. Hope your laptop issues clear for many reasons. Kathleen ya_lublyu_tebya 05/02/2008 07:08 pm 48 Shatters Good update! Nice little scene. Drunken Spike is sweet. Hehe, gotta love drunk Spike. :) Glad you liked! :-) 05/16/2010 11:17 am 47 Pieces :) I'm surprised Spike warned the kids off - that must have been a first! Excellent picture of Dru. Glad you liked Dru! As for Spike warning the kids, it just slipped out of him, I think. It's not like he planned to (and who knows, Dru still could have gotten them...), or really cares about anyone but Buffy yet. Thanks for reviewing! IT 04/29/2008 09:28 pm 47 Pieces Well done. The Scoobies are coming together nicely. It's refreshing to see Xander being more tolerant towards Anya's past and Giles recognizing Anya's experience and knowledge. She was always a valuable member of the team, if not valued. I wonder how long it will take Giles to begin to suspect that Buffy's being trained elsewhere, too. Can't wait for his reaction when he finds out that she's teamed up with Spike. Speaking of which, if this was Friday and Saturday is 'payment' day, can we look forward to more Spuffy goodness in the the chapter? Please?! :) Lastly, Dru was great. I could really picture her standing there, swaying, looking up at the stars. And it's through her that we get a true glimpse of how much Buffy really is affecting Spike - warning the teens off has to be a first for him! Bravo! Looking forward to more. Thank you! I always thought that Anya was underused (knowledge wise) on the show. (Though she might be underused here as well, since we won't have unknown demons and such running around, and Angelus is set up to be the big bad.) Though I never really thought of Xander as intolerant until she became a demon again, more just blissfully ignorant. More like he just didn't want to hear about it, and pretended his human girlfriend hadn't spent 1000 years killing people. :) Hmm, well it might take Giles longer to suspect than you would suspect. I figured, on the show, even in season one, they're doing minimal training and she's still kicking his ass just because she's the Slayer. So it's not as if he's expecting to beat her. Buffy's always been good, and it might take this Giles a bit before he realizes HOW good she is. Glad you liked Dru! And Spike warning the teenagers just sort of slipped out, I think. It's not like he planned to. After all, his first instinct was to size them up as a dinner delivery, even thinking about how he would have done it, though he didn't act on it. He'll have several ups and downs before his thinking actually changes. As for the next chapter, it will be Saturday, but I'll let you decide how good the goodness is. :) The chapter after that will also be happening Saturday. Thanks for reviewing! Deb 04/29/2008 07:18 pm 47 Pieces Lovely update. We really don't mind how long the story goes as it continues to intrigue and interest! Keep enjoying the writing! Thank you so much! Thanks for reading! Dee 04/28/2008 03:10 pm 47 Pieces Very well written Spike in this chapter. Can't help but love that wacked out Dru. Loves Bitch for sure. Thank you for the compliments on Spike, and glad you liked Dru! Thanks for reviewing! playground next to a cemetery - LOL, I've been wondering about that playground. Liked the part where Spike reveals how he would have killed the teenagers - boy first, etc. Good Drusilla with the skin inside out, too. Hehe, I think in some season 3 episode it said that Sunnydale had like 12 cemeteries, there's got to be a park near one of them, LOL. And I thought of the line for Dru from what she said to Spike in some season 2 episode (Halloween, I think), where she asks if he loved her insides, the parts he can't see. Glad you liked the part with the teenagers! Spike is still very much a vampire, and his first instinct upon seeing them is to size them up as delivery, even if he doesn't act on it. Thanks for reviewing! enjoy spike trying to convince dru to leave and his half-hearted warning to the couple. very good read, thank you. not the least bit sad that the tale is going to run to additional chapters. Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! hehe... someone's growing a conscience..... loved the update. like how anya's in the story. provides someone for xander. hey, youll see no objections from me about the fic being longer! ^_^ ~liz Hehe, Spike might be growing a conscience, but it's a long way away from fully developing. Glad you liked Anya, because Xander does need someone. Thanks for reading! Small changes in Spike, slow and steady. I don't blame him for trying to warn Dru away or in promising not to stop Buffy. I don't think he WOULD stake her unless it was to save Buffy from her, nor should he. Loving Anya....fresh and not as ill treated here. This group seem a BIT more demon tolerant, rather like early show scoobies. Kathleen Spike may be having small changes, but they're quite unconscious on his part, LOL. He didn't think about warning the couple, it just happened, and he didn't really care what happened after that (who knows, Dru could have gotten them). And he'll have several ups and downs along the way. Yes, since Dru's not leaving, Spike has drawn his line in the sand, so to speak. Letting Dru go (mentally), and telling her that he'll not protect her. And nope, he definitely wouldn't kill Dru unless it was her or Buffy. Hmm, I always thought the Scoobies on the show were tolerant to *certain* demons (i.e. ones that needed to be in their inner circle, as long as they weren't a vampire). There never seemed to be anything problematic about Oz (but then, he was a person who happened to be a werewolf), and Anya was more or less accepted as human until she went demon again in season 6. (Yeah, another big gripe there, that no one ever questioned her bloody past as long as she was human. But I digress...) I love Anya, she 's so fun to write, and she and Xander are wonderful together. Thanks for reviewing! You take all the time you need. I think us readers will be able to stand a couple extra chapters :D I really liked seeing this interaction between Spike and Drusilla. He had laid out his feelings on the subject of Dru to Buffy, but this adds a little more depth as he gives his ex-lover a last bit of loyalty and affection. Also.. warning the two teenagers to go the other way, but then not really caring if they do or not? Classic good/evil ambiguity for Spike. Love details like that. Glad you liked the Spike and Dru part! I thought he needed to see her one last time, as well as try and get her to take herself out of the action. But as she's determined not to, Spike will have to let her go and choose sides (we all know he'd choose Buffy, right? ;) And glad you liked the bit with the teenagers! I think Spike surprised himself when he warned them, but yeah, he doesn't really care what happens. (Who knows? Dru still could have gotten them.) Morally, Spike is coming along, but verrrrry slowly, and he still has a long way to go before he cares about anything but Buffy, as well as several ups and downs along the way. Thanks for reviewing! 07/01/2010 11:17 pm 46 Assumptions :) :-) 05/16/2010 08:26 am 46 Assumptions :) Good chapter Golden, keep up the good work. Thank you so much! congratulations on your awards - I have been enjoying this work very much - excellent alternative reality. Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Cas 04/19/2008 11:09 pm 46 Assumptions mostly his issues??? Glad Joyce put in her two cents in his favor. Don't know what Buffy's problem is. Well, Buffy was mainly trying to end the conversation before it got too involved. She could hardly go into the vampire thing with her mother. And him very recently killing people counts as an issue, I think. Thanks for reviewing! IT 04/19/2008 07:16 pm 46 Assumptions Spike is sure putting Buffy through the ringer! Maybe she should do some of the "stretching her senses while blindfolded" training. You've got Joyce down right; I always thought she knew more than she let on. As always, looking forward to more! Well Spike definitely isn't going easy on her! Hmm, I was going to leave the blindfold training to Giles, since that's one thing that seems like a Giles technique. Though maybe Spike and Buffy can expand on it, some dark night..... Glad you liked Joyce, and thanks for reviewing! Leanne 04/19/2008 06:27 pm 46 Assumptions Great chapter. Love th way you're progressng their relationship in this situation. Like that Joyce and Buffy are not hiding too much from each other too. Thank you so much! Glad you liked! They seem to be reaching an understanding of sorts - I hope it continues. Glad you liked! Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 04/19/2008 09:51 am 46 Assumptions Good update! Like that Joyce was all accepting of a possible relationship with Spike. Nice. Glad you liked it! Thanks for reading! Lovely update. Love how Spike is weighing his choices against what Buffy would want *snicker*...still doing what HE wants but is nagging himself in her honor. LOL Smart Joyce. Good thing he's training her or she'd not survive long against the group. Little slip there Spikey....yeah, all business...right! Killed them because they had gone after her. Wasn't working for her then and she knows it. Oh yeah, he's hers. Kathleen Don't worry, Buffy will get a chance to nag him about his diet later. :) Hey, Joyce knows what's what. Well, mostly. Even with her being insightful, she's not jumping to vampire conclusions. Though she will be seeing a little more of Spike, since Buffy's out of the Slayer closet. Hehe, Spike is definitely hers! Thanks for reviewing! loved the update. anyways did like joyce. good chappie. i forget, does spike already love buffy in this fic? ill have to go back and check...... anyways, great update, as always. ~liz Thank you so much! Well, Spike hasn't said anything, but he did think about his relationship so far with Buffy in chapter 45, and some in chapter 37. As for love, I'll let you decide ;) Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 08:21 am 45 Accounts :) anya is such a joy. good read, thank you. Glad you liked Anya! Thanks for reading! Interesting backstory on Faith. Good old Anya, I've missed her. Glad you liked Anya! She'll be sticking around from now on... Thanks for the review! Another fantastic chapter. I loved the whole bit with Faith and the Mayor, so very much something I can see Angelus doing. And that was a great way to get Anya into the story. Can't wait for more! Thank you so much! Glad you liked the Mayor, as well as Anya. Thanks for reviewing! Loved the way you brought Anya into the story; can't wait to see what happens next! I actually feel bad for Faith, never thought that could happen! LOL! Can't wait for the next chapter! Glad you liked Anya! As for Faith, well, she did endure months of being chained up by Angelus, so it's okay to feel bad for her, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! oh, i liek the anya addition. didn't see that one coming. pleasant surprise. wonderful, as usual. ~liz Glad you liked Anya! Thanks for reviewing! What a delightful and informative chapter. Perfect way to bring Anya into the group (and I am delighted to see her BTW). I actually feel a bit sorry for Faith because the love she had for and from the Mayor was about all she had ever had and I was always sympathetic to her on that score. I can feel her pain at the hands of Angelus as he tortured them both that way. You have a real handle on how Angelus works too and presented it nicely. Love how Buffy and Spike are both swimming in that Nile LOL. Just a lovely way to deal with answering the backstory while propelling the current situation further. Nice touches all round. And congratulations on the awards!!! Kathleen Thank you for the congrats! And glad you liked Anya! I had always intended for her to be the one to "out" what happened to Faith, since she had the inner scoop, so to speak. I'm glad people liked how I brought her in, since there was no Cordy to wish, and no Buffy to cause a wish. Yeah, all Faith really had going for her was the Mayor (both here and in canon). Didn't work out so well for her in either, I'm afriad. The Nile is lovely this time of year, isn't it? Thanks for reading! Great update - and congratulations on your new award for this story - well done and well deserved. Thank you so much! IT 04/12/2008 06:52 pm 45 Accounts Congratulations on your awards! “I’m Anya,” she said brightly. “What’s your name?” “Uh, Xander.” Anya smiled. lol Trust Anya to come up with a way to get out of paying rent! Loved Angelus and the Mayor. I think you got this scenerio right - there is no way that Angelus would have been as easy on him as Angel was. I love how he toyed with him, then squished him like the bug he was. Poor Faith, but that's what you get for crossing Angel. Buffy and Spike have a fight on their hands, for sure. Looking forward to the next up-date! Thank you for the congrats! Glad you liked Anya! Well, she might not jump straight into using Xander to not pay rent, but what can I say, the girl knows what she wants! And yes, I think everyone learned not to mess with Angelus. Buffy and Spike do have the work cut out for themselves. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the review! 04/12/2008 06:52 pm 45 Accounts Congratulations on your awards! “I’m Anya,” she said brightly. “What’s your name?” “Uh, Xander.” Anya smiled. lol Trust Anya to come up with a way to get out of paying rent! Loved Angelus and the Mayor. I think you got this scenerio right - there is no way that Angelus would have been as easy on him as Angel was. I love how he toyed with him, then squished him like the bug he was. Poor Faith, but that's what you get for crossing Angel. Buffy and Spike have a fight on their hands, for sure. Looking forward to the next up-date! Thank you! Excellent flashback - good to see Angelus in such fine form - and now Anya's arrived. A great read. Glad you liked Anya, and Angelus! I like a nice, evil Angelus. Thanks for reviewing! Cas 04/12/2008 02:48 am 45 Accounts Although Buffy and Spike may change with the wind, Anya is always the same Anya. Interesting backstory about Faith. Why do we need to know? Congrats on your awards. Thank you for the congrats! Glad you liked Anya! As for Faith, it's just part of the story, really. Thanks for reviewing! spike is already hooked. joyce is accepting but concerned. hope the two meet up soon. very good read, thank you. Yes, Spike is in deep... Thanks for reviewing! Very interesting. And for now, very convenient. I can't see Spike being interested in staying convenient for much longer--he has too much personality for that. Glad you liked! Thanks for reviewing! ajn 04/09/2008 06:00 am 44 Disclosures write some more. hurry, hurry, hurry. I love it! Thank you so much! More coming soon! And if she couldn’t, he would. One of the best closing sentences to a chapter I've read in a long time; love the way this story is developing; can't wait to see what happens next!!! Glad you liked that line! Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you keep enjoying! Oh yes he is well and truly buggered and he loves it! Spikey's in love. Now to let Buffy in on it *G*. I think she'll protest at this point but we all know she feels the same. Glad Joyce now knows. It will go much more smoothly all round. Buffy needs to reintroduce her to Spike...at least she's met him before (in a positive way too). Lovely update. Kathleen Yep, Spike's got it bad. Hehe, why is everyone so sure Spike's just gonna come out and say it right away, though? :) As for Joyce meeting Spike, well, she might be running into him again sometime soon... Thanks for reading! orpheus 04/07/2008 09:52 am 44 Disclosures AWWWWW...that was almost tooth achingly cute. BRING ON THE BAD GUYS I'M READY TO KICK TOOSH!! Glad you liked! Bad guys coming soon, and a little info about the bad guys coming up next! Thanks for reviewing! IT 04/07/2008 07:06 am 44 Disclosures Yes, some things have been disclosed, but not the biggest one of all! Wonder how much longer Buffy can hide Spike from everyone. Hot opening, by the way! Glad you liked the opening! As for Buffy hiding Spike, a little while longer... Thanks for the review! Intense description of Spike taking Buffy's blood. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like. Excellent! Thank you so much! Glad you liked the blood bit, I'd had that scene in my head for a while. Thanks for the review! great to have another update - wonderful story Thanks for reviewing! loved it. spike is soooooo beyond the leaving stage now. hes stuck with buffy for the rest of her life! haha. excellent update though, as always. ~liz Glad you enjoyed! Yep, Spike is in deep. :) Thanks for the review! 04/07/2008 01:20 am 44 Disclosures Love love love this story. Love it!!! Thank you so much! Dee 04/06/2008 08:02 pm 44 Disclosures Great chapter Thank you! Aww - I liked this chapter a lot. Joyce dealing with the mind-spinning news, Buffy and Spike's little UST laced payday scene, and Spike's realization of what she is to him. And the wonderful way she just says "yes" when he offers to take her out to dinner. Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it all! Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you keep enjoying! A warming in all departments then! Glad you liked! Thanks for reading! Good update. Aww, Spike's blatantly fallen head over heels. Can't wait for more. Yep, Spike's in deep! Thanks for reviewing! I count the days each week until it is time for you to post the next chapter. Then I fly to the computer at warp speed! This is another nice addition. Joyce took it all pretty well compared to the TV show version; now I just wonder how the Scoobies and Giles will take it when they find out! Nice touch you added with her bringing him a Christmas present. sigh...now 6 more days to wait to see what happens next! :-) Well, I figured if Buffy actually took the time to sit down and explain things to her, instead of ignoring her and running out the door in a mood (though, granted, on the show, she was in the middle of an apocalypse), then Joyce might take it better LOL. Glad you liked Buffy's little Christmas present! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 04/06/2008 03:16 pm 44 Disclosures So, not so romatic this Buffy and Spike, a brown paper bag with some boxes (not even a carton!) of cigarettes. Perhpas eh protests too much. Eh, I figure this Buffy isn't ready for a romantic Xmas. Besides, Spike admittedly didn't get her anything, LOL. Thanks for reviewing! “So you’re in the band?” Buffy asked. And thank God that had come out, because ‘so you’re the werewolf’ had been on the tip of her tongue. LOL! And loved Spike dancing with her. Thank you! IT 04/04/2008 08:57 am 43 Outings Faith dreams... wonder what else she'll tell Buffy. So now that Willow and Xander have seen Spike I wonder if they'll recognize him in one of Giles' books - could be interesting. Thanks for the update. Looking forward to more. Glad you liked! The Scoobies won't be finding out just yet, though... Thanks for reviewing! Mirrors *sporfle*! Nice having Willow and Xander not hostile! Of course they have no idea he's a vampire yet. Kathleen Glad you liked! Yeah, right now Spike's just some guy to them. Thanks for reviewing! akarinacj 04/03/2008 11:06 am 43 Outings I like this story very much. Please update soon. :-) Thank you! Update coming this weekend! I'm really enjoying this - it's such a treat to read a Spike and Buffy who are comfortable with each other. Thank you! But just because they're comfortable with each other doesn't mean there won't be some issues... Thanks for reviewing! hehehe... i liked that. hm, all of your stuff is good. can't wait for more! ~liz Thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking it! Reb 04/03/2008 06:12 am 43 Outings This was fun and cute. Characterizations for Willow, Giles and Buffy were very good. I could use a few more Ozisms, but then who couldn't? Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! Leanne 04/03/2008 04:45 am 43 Outings "And ooh--decorating tip, mirrors make a room look bigger." Ha ha ha ha ha - great ending to the chapter!! Really enjoying this story - keep it going! Hehe, glad you liked that line! I'm happy you're liking the story so much! Thanks for reviewing! jess 04/03/2008 03:59 am 43 Outings cute chap. Thank you! Cas 04/03/2008 03:51 am 43 Outings Especially liked the part where Buffy tells Willow half truths about Spike, and where she catches on about Spike still having a place in LA. Wouldn't have minded the dance scene being hotter, but it makes sense in the story. Thank you! I'm glad you liked! Yeah, the dance was pretty tame, but not to worry, things will be getting hotter soon enough! Thanks for reviewing! great to have the new update - I like this Spike and always good to have Buffy in not the typical "bitch Buffy" early season mode. Thank you! Yeah, Buffy's a little less abrasive in this story, though she will have some moments later. Thanks for reviewing! decorating tip, mirrors make a room look bigger - good one, golden. LOL Hehe, glad you liked! Thanks for reading! Pam S 04/03/2008 02:04 am 43 Outings Love the "vampire" banter... Made me laugh and I needed that today.. Easy going relationship at this point.. Spike being content to stay close yet keep his distance. Waiting for her next "payment".. Thanks for the early and added update.. Glad you liked! Yes, an extra update, I'll have the regular one this weekend. And the next payment coming up this weekend as well! Thanks for reviewing! I was really anticipating the meeting of Buffy and other part of the Fanged Four. And you certainly didn't disappoint. Loved it! Thank you! I really liked writing the big meeting in this chapter. difficult to decide if angelus is overconfident or delusional? fine read, thank you. Well, he has had his run of Sunnydale for a year or so. But maybe a bit of both. Thanks for reviewing! <i>“Well, yeah,” Spike said in a bored tone. “What’s that they say nowadays? ‘Duh?’”</i> Perfect Spike voice for the comeback. Love the meeting and the aftermath. Looks like the line has been drawn in the sand. Wonder what Buffy would think if Giles find Spike and misunderstands....she'd have to "out" their relationship pretty quickly. Yes, Dru knows the score even if Spike and Buffy are ignoring that elephant in the room still. Angelus best keep his hands off Buffy or Spike will show him he was paying attention when being taught about torture. Excellent. Kathleen Glad you liked! Yes, Dru knows what's what. She's always a step or two ahead, even if she doesn't realize it, LOL. If only Angelus would take the time to listen, he might figure some things out a bit sooner. Thanks for reviewing! (Funny you should mention the bit about the torture, though.... *evil grin*) IT 03/31/2008 03:11 am 42 Interviews Great chapter. LOL "He would catch the show, and she would catch someone whose gown she liked." Looking forward to more. Thank you! Hehe, I liked it on Angel when he talks about going to the opera, even when he was evil. And Darla does seem to be fancily dressed whenever she is. Glad you liked! Great Update - nice first encounter - I always enjoy Angelus and his two grand ladies in a good story - Thank you! Glad you liked! A loving vampire family - just like real people. Loved it. Thank you so much! Thanks for reviewing! Oooh, scary Anglegus. I hope Darla remains disinterested long enough for Buffy and Spike to get rid of him! Glad you liked! Thanks for reading! I really liked these parts: Of course, she was paying him to beat her up. It would have been almost funny, if it weren’t so horribly bizarre. Buffy found herself looking at the movies in a new light, as well as in desperate need of her own montage. LOL! And here, I liked the gradually part and then her feeling Spike behind her. Like she was used to it now. Like she was safe with him there. Oh, I’m way past routine already, Buffy thought as they walked. The weirdness had taken over every part of her life so gradually that she hadn’t even noticed it. She looked over her shoulder into the darkness, and though there was nothing there, she could feel Spike trailing behind them. Thank you! I'm glad you're still liking it! ya_lublyu_tebya 03/29/2008 02:35 pm 41 Preparations Good update. Love Spike and fighting! More soon please! Thank you! Glad you liked! well that training session should have shown buffy that it old vampires she is going to fight not a watcher. very good chapter, thank you. Yes, Buffy's got her work cut out for her... Thanks for reviewing! Good action scene with Spuffy sparring. Liked the way Buffy got her butt kicked over and over. Glad you liked their 'session!' Thanks for reviewing! “You’re dead,” he breathed in her ear. Is it terrible of me that seeing this play in my head makes me hot? Grrrrrr! I can hear his deep voice whispering...sigh... "It was the slow walk of a hunter. Confident, stalking--smoothly shifting his weight from one foot to the other, arms swaying slightly as he approached her." OH so visual! Again with the hotness that is Spike. Nicely written. When he's through training her she'll be the nearly invincible Buffy we remember even though she's freshly called in this story. Good job. Wonderfully written action sequence (hard to do too) JUST the right amount of detail to make it clearly visual without being too "technical". Excellent. Kathleen It's never wrong to think anything Spike does it hot, LOL. And what better way to get Buffy in shape than to have him kick her butt over and over? Cause I don't think a newly called Slayer would stand a chance against him, really (good thing he's got a soft spot for her!) Soon enough Buffy will be doing some butt kicking of her own. And thank you for the compliments about the training scene! I usually have no problem writing dialog, but I'm always a little nervous about how well an action scene is going to come off. Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! Deb 03/22/2008 08:20 am 41 Preparations Lovely update. Liked the sparring and also Willow time. Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for reviewing! great to have another update - I like Spike playing the role, even if just a bit, of mentor - fighting master; nice. Hope that you can bring us another chapter soon - Glad you liked! Thank you so much! loved the new chappie! oh, and the entire fighting scene - the repetitions of "you're dead" - oh, so awesome. wonderful job. can't wait for mroe! ~Liz I'm glad you liked it! Hehe, the "you're dead" parts were my favorite, too! Thanks for reading! IT 03/22/2008 04:40 am 41 Preparations Great training scene. I love your Spike! Looking forward to more. Thank you much! Cas 03/22/2008 02:06 am 41 Preparations Very good then that Buffy has Spike on her side, because she is so not up to taking on Angelus, let alone all of them! Yeah, Buffy's not ready for Angelus yet. Glad you liked! Thanks for reviewing! I like the way your Buffy is having to work herself into being a good slayer. And she definitely has the right vamp to help her get there! Thank you! Well, we never really saw what happened to Buffy after she was called in the series, only her first vamp staking when she misses the heart. And then she comes to SD in the S1, and while she gets progressively better, we never saw her adjusting to Slaying. And I figure my Buffy has only been the Slayer for a month or so, so she's still got some stuff to learn. Glad you liked! :-) 05/16/2010 06:52 am 40 Gatherings :) “What are you talkin’ about?” “I have no idea,” Buffy said, getting out of bed. This tickled me. :) Thanks for reviewing! orpheus 03/17/2008 05:00 am 40 Gatherings like the witty exchange betwixt the characters Thank you so much! Love the by-play between the two of them; can't wait to see more! Thank you so much! Thanks for reviewing! The two of them are playing it pretty cool, aren't they? Nice snappy dialogue. Glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing! Nice little exchange between them. Just light enough, with the unsaid things under the surface. Also liked the "getting to know you" with the Scoobies. It isn't easy to bring off AU set ups and still capture the characters - so good for you! Hehe, Buffy and Spike will be the masters of leaving the unsaid things unsaid for a little while. And thank you for the compliments about the Scoobies! I was a little nervous about how to introduce them at first, so I'm glad people are liking it. :) Thanks for reading! Great Update - nice to have the new chapter - looking forward to the next - very much enjoying this story - Glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! Oh Buffy he is SO yours! Tee heee. Funny how she isn't interested in any fix ups for that matter. Nice Scooby and Giles voices too. Wonder about the woman in the Magic Box....Hummmmmm Kathleen Yep, Buffy's still carrying her torch, no fix ups for her! And woman in the Magic Box coming up in a few chapters... Thanks for reviewing! Deb 03/15/2008 03:45 am 40 Gatherings Nice update. Little Bronzing, little bedroom conversation...what's not to like? Glad you liked! Because more Bronzing and more bedroom conversation are in the future... Thanks for reading! angelus and angel share so many qualities, but i still prefer angelus. very good read, thank you. Angelus is fun, isn't he? Thanks for reviewing! NICE Update - excellent sectin on The Bad Three - Thank you! I'm glad you liked! Orpheus 03/11/2008 05:36 am 39 Flashes Niftyness so does this mean Darla isn't among them anymore? Well, Darla left then, but she's back now. Thanks for reviewing! IT 03/10/2008 04:57 am 39 Flashes Interesting bits of history for the Aurelians. I'm looking forward to more Angelus, Dru and Darla. They will be quite the match for Spike and Buffy. More soon, please. Glad you liked their history! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 03/10/2008 02:36 am 39 Flashes Ah, nice to know and all that - but doesn't move the story along! Yeah, but I had to get it out there. Thanks for reviewing! Spikez_tart 03/10/2008 02:35 am 39 Flashes Great chapter Spike, however, had shrugged, said “your loss, mate,” and killed the girl himself. LOL - Spike the ever practical - waste not want not. :) Yep, Spike wasn't about to let a good thing go to waste just because Angelus was all soulful. Thanks for reviewing! Love how you re-wrote their histories like that. It was magnificentaly done. Brilliant way to make the illness pass down the line. Wonderful capture of all of their characters too. Can't wait for more. ~Liz Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it! Oh this is so very believable! I can just see it happening this way (even the way he lost his soul). Excellent twist on canon here. Love the potential change in the dynamic of the three still roving together too. Really nice back story. Nope, no love for poor William there except perhaps Dru. Especially good Angelus and Darla voices. KAthleen Thank you! I'm glad you liked the tweaked 'history.' I was a little nervous about posting a chapter without any Spike or Buffy, but these flashbacks just didn't seem to fit into any other chapter. Thanks for reading! Wonderful Dru, Darla and Angelus voices there (love how Angelus broods *G*). There is still something rather tragic and sweet about Dru. Good encounter with Giles. Wonder how he'll take to Spike? Should be interesting to see how you plan to introduce Buffy's "employee" LOL. Kathleen Hehe, Angel's not the only one who can brood, Angelus can too! Well, Buffy won't be introducing her employee, that's for sure. :) Still a while before anyone finds out. Needless to say, this fic is going to be longer than I intended it to be. Nothing's changed on what I'm writing, story-wise, but it just seems to be taking much longer than I thought it would to get there. Thanks for reviewing! Cas 03/07/2008 12:38 am 38 Acclimations So, is the dog sunshine too? I'm a bit surprised (but happy) that Dru didn't happen to mention who 'he' is. Cryptic as usual. Thanks. Nope, the dog isn't sunshine, just the vision. And it just wouldn't be any fun for Angelus to find out Spike's in town from a vision.... :) Thanks for reading! one of them better learn to understand dru. very good, read, thank you. I'm betting that understanding Dru was always Spike's job... Thanks for reviewing! jess 03/06/2008 07:35 am 38 Acclimations whose the dog? maybe OZ? Nope, just a dog, much like the one she tried to feed Spike in season 2. Thanks for reading! IT 03/06/2008 07:18 am 38 Acclimations Drusilla with a pet dog - priceless! A bored Angelus cannot be a good thing.... Looking forward to more, thanks! Glad you liked the dog! And a bored Angelus is definitely not a good thing. Thanks for reviewing! Goody evil Angel Yes, Angelus is going to be quite bad.... Dee 03/06/2008 03:42 am 38 Acclimations I am really enjoying this story and Dru in a closet with a dog! But the line "he'll throw you to the sunshine" That was very good. Glad you liked that line! And I couldn't resist Dru having a dog, like she carried that one from season 2 around. Thanks for reading! 08/29/2010 06:29 am 37 Ramblings : Richard 01/24/2009 05:56 am 37 Ramblings Really good story but in this chapter I'm thinking of how vulnerable vampires are. All you need are some incendiary grenades, a flamethrower, and a pile of blood bags to throw them into a mindless frenzy. Oh and a couple barrels of holy water (4 metric tonnes should suffice) for close-up work. A 6-man crew should be able to take out the Mansion in less than an hour. Dump the blood in one end, throw holy water at anyone who appears there, wait some more, then start walking the flamethrowers through there. When the masters bolt from the back entrance, they trigger the incendiaries. A couple guys walk behind the flamethrowers with buckets of holy water. And another couple walk the perimeter / back entrance with more holy water. Well, true. But Buffy of the show never did that, either. The Scoobies only used extreme measures when the plot called for it, it seemed, like the blowing up the Mayor. Most of the time, she cleaned out vampires with a stake. She only took a sword when she went to face Angelus in Becoming. Maybe some of that stuff would be hard to get on a regular basis? I think we saw Angel's crew use a flamethrower, but even that was only a couple of times. But I'm glad you're enjoying the story and thanks for reviewing! NICE READ - looking forward to the next update - Thank you so much! Deb 03/03/2008 04:12 am 37 Ramblings Nice insight into his motivations. Good job! Glad you liked! Thanks for reviewing! happy to see spike has his past with angel and dru in perspective. very good read, thank you. Thank you so much! Nice back story....well done. You've laid the groundwork for their relationships with that, even Dru. Spike is a bit ambiguous about her as one would expect. He is still in denial about his emotions where Buffy is concerned but so many of his thoughts are telling. Kathleen Yeah, Spike is in denial about Buffy, but he doesn't know he's in denial. :) As well as a bit unsure about what to do about Dru, since Buffy is there to kill the vampires. Thanks for reviewing! LOL at Spike apartment hunting. Knew he'd warm up when he thought about killing Angelus. Just realized what a relief it is to skip over all the high school stuff and have Buffy be more or less an adult. Hehe, well as I told someone else, I think this fic is going to have a season 4 feel, since that's kind of where all the characters are (college, the Magic Box, etc). It just felt like the way to go. Glad you liked the chapter, and thanks for reading! orpheus 03/01/2008 08:03 am 37 Ramblings weeeeee another update!!!! Glad you enjoyed! Dee 03/01/2008 04:49 am 37 Ramblings Very nice backstory for Spike and the family. This story has a very nice flow to it. It might just be because I am tired, but I don't quite get why Angelus can't feed. I am going to reread to see if I missed it. Thanks for a good update. Glad you liked it! As for Angelus not being able to feed, it's been implied, though not said outright yet, that since he was part of a *completed properly* ritual to make Drusilla strong again, he was completely drained and basically put into a worse position than she was. Thanks for reviewing! Cas 03/01/2008 04:21 am 37 Ramblings Course, all those formerly occupied, now vacant apartments in Sunnydale! LOL Well, there is the high death rate. :) Glad you liked! Loved it. Wonderful update with insight to Spike's life. SO glad you didn't have him stay in a crypt! Can't wait for more! Liz Hehe, well it wouldn't make much sense for him to get a crypt, since we know he'd been paid thousands for guarding Buffy back there. He's hardly homeless. :) Glad you liked, and thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 05:35 am 36 Insights :) Great chapter with just the two of them. And aww, he was sleeping on her floor. :) Glad you liked it! orpheus 02/26/2008 07:43 am 36 Insights ooo me likey this chapter XD Thanks so much! very good chapter, thank you. delightful end to the chapter. Thank you so much! Deb 02/25/2008 12:23 pm 36 Insights A bit more intimate. Very nice banter back and forth. Thank you! Glad you liked! notwhomever 02/25/2008 05:14 am 36 Insights looking forward to seeing how you develop the relationships between your characters, I expect that you won't disappoint based on what I've read so far. looking forward to future chapters Thank you so much! I'm glad you think so, and I hope you keep enjoying! Liked it. Especially how Spike came and slept on the floor. Can't wait for more! ~Liz Glad you liked that bit! Thanks for reviewing! Cas 02/24/2008 06:10 pm 36 Insights That's so cute - Spike asleep on her floor. I half suspected he'd be off trying to find his old mates, for one reason or another. But, why isn't he sleeping in her bed? I think Joyce would totally understand their "thing", evenif he is a bit old for her. Well, Buffy did tell him, "there's the floor." :) And Joyce will discover their 'thing' later. Spike might have been off doing a little investigating his mates during the night, though... Thanks for reviewing! IT 02/24/2008 05:42 pm 36 Insights Their relationship just keeps developing in interesting ways. Looking forward to more. Glad you think so! Thanks for reading! Loved Spike the pschyotherapist. And LOL at Buffy the 9:30 a.m. early riser. Well, she gave him the pep talk about Angelus, so it's only fair. :) Eh, 9:30's not SO early, especially if she went to sleep right after dinner... Thanks for reading! 02/24/2008 04:15 pm 36 Insights Love it Thank you! jess 02/24/2008 04:05 pm 36 Insights yeah he's not in love. Hehe, he's in denial... Thanks for reading! Aw. I like the matter-of-fact way they're working this out. Bit worried about Angleus making his first appearance - not to mention that nobody knows about Faith yet... Glad you're liking! Hmm, you can worry about Angelus, but not TOO much, since, much like in the series, he'll have several appearances before it all comes down to it. And information about Faith will be coming out from a surprising, and so far, unknown, source. :) Thanks for reviewing! Another brilliant update as always. Spike's such a softie really. Love their relationship in this. More, please! Only a softie where Buffy is concerned! Which is why we like him, right? :) Thanks for reading! *snort* couldn't find a place, eh Spike? RIGHT! Oh he's in deep already just hasn't gotten out of that Egyptian river yet...same with her. Wonderful team. Great conversation about Slayer mortality. Excellent update KAthleen Well, he might not have tried very hard to find a place, LOL. And hehe, both of them are drowning, but they just don't know it, or at least, want to admit it. Glad you liked their conversation. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 05:26 am 35 Tastes :) sirc 02/21/2008 02:47 pm 35 Tastes Well done! Thank you! Spikez_tart 02/19/2008 02:51 am 35 Tastes Whoo hoo. Better stay off Spike's lap, Buffy. It's dangerous there. Hehe, it is indeed! :) Thanks for reviewing! IT 02/18/2008 05:37 pm 35 Tastes Wow. That was intimate and sexual, yet not sexual at the same time. I can feel the buzz off the two of them from here! That was a nice way to leave if until next week - thanks. There's definitely some buzzing.... Glad you liked, thanks for reviewing! fyreburned 02/18/2008 07:28 am 35 Tastes Oh, Gods, you mean we have to wait almost a whole week? Guh! Spike almost totally makes it non-sexual in nature, the biting that is...as if, with him involved, it could EVER be non-sexual at all...interesting his reaction to her talking of her death, his freaking out about her thoughts! There's more in his heart and mind than he can handle too, I think. ~~K.~~ Hehe, everything Spike does is sexy! But it's true that he doesn't 'up the ante,' or bring sex blatantly into it, but just holds her tightly and takes the blood. Nor does Buffy get turned on, exactly, though she realizes the intimacy of their act. More to come later... Thanks for reviewing! Highly erotic bite scene there! Very sexual (and that's the whole Vampire mythos in a nutshell). Nicely done! Yes, he cares....she startled and angered him with her suggestion that her death was an okay thing. She's under his skin as much as the siren call of her blood is. Lovely Kathleen Well, if you thought that one was erotic *cough* just wait. Buffy and Spike will have a standing Saturday night date... Thank you so much! Such a lovely bit of intimacy you set up here. The image of the two of them on her couch, sitting in the afterglow... him just playing with her hair... it's just such a beautiful, kind of frozen image. It's like someone pressed pause on the clock, and the two of them can have a small moment of gentleness and sweetness with one another that's been denied to them up until now. Thank you, I'm happy you enjoyed it! Yeah, Buffy and Spike needed a bit of an interlude. I'm glad you liked the imagery, and thanks for reading! jess 02/18/2008 03:09 am 35 Tastes yeah not in love with her whatever! Hehe, love isn't brains, it's blood. :) Maybe a taste or two more will wake him up... Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 05:23 am 34 Agreements :) "I could care less." Is that a telling slip or what? They are so cute together! Thank you! sirc 02/21/2008 02:42 pm 34 Agreements Great chapter! :D Thank you! Deb 02/17/2008 09:32 am 34 Agreements Another great update. Like how Spike almost spills his handiwork on her behalf. His mouth just gets him into trouble. Funny seeing Buffy give the pep talk to Spike about taking Angelus out. Fun to read! Yep, and Spike's mouth will get him in trouble a time or two more before all is said and done. :) Thanks for reviewing! IT 02/17/2008 05:20 am 34 Agreements Good chapter, thanks. Thank you! You’re acting just like a freshman who got stuffed in a locker by the quarterback Awesome, awesome line!!! I laughed out loud at that one; can't wait for more of the story; really good read!!! I also read your Dawn/Spike story on your LJ; really great; loved how you kept Spike so in character! Glad you liked that line! Thank you so much, and thanks for the compliments on the Dawn story! I like it. I love Spike and Buffy's interplay, the way they relate and talk to one another. It's not overly dramatic, you don't shove sexual tension into every little interaction between them. They can just be two people, two friends - not that they would admit to that - talking business. You consistently produce quality writing. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Thank you! Your compliments mean so much! Well, they've already had sex, so not so much with the UST, but there will be emotional tension, as both of them figure out where they're standing. And the sexiness will be reserved for the biting... Cas 02/16/2008 10:31 pm 34 Agreements Wasn't sure what tact Buffy would take, but figured that would be the agreement. Really, I think Buffy should be more concerned than she appears - I mean she can't even take Spike (regardless of the gem) how can she possibly think she could survive the three of them unless she had Spike on her side? Well, Buffy's concern will come up in the next few chapters. As for thinking that she could survive if she didn't have Spike, well, she didn't think she could, which will come up two chapters from now. Thanks for reviewing! Lovely chapter. He is so honest with her but I think the main reason he didn't saw who he impaled last was because it touches too much on his feelings for her, his very personal feelings for her. He hasn't accepted his heart is engaged yet just his lust and appetite. Got a feeling that'll change pretty quickly once Angelus is involved. She's shrewd too and realizes he really cares about whoever he "spiked" the guy over. Eventually she may put two and two together and realize it was/is her. Love the casual way they are with each other. Very much a couple even if they don't acknowledge it yet. They are familiar and at ease in each others company (and pasts). Excellent. Kathleen Yep, Spike's reasons for killing and also torturing Smith strike a little too close to home for him to come out and admit, especially since Wesley tried to call him on it once already. Buffy will eventually realize what Spike was talking about, though it won't come up again for some time. And yep, Angelus will definitely play a part in bringing Spike's feelings to light. Spike and Buffy are definitely acting like a couple who's not a couple. Maybe friends with blood benefits? :) Thanks for reading, and thank you so much for reviewing! Pam S 02/16/2008 09:29 pm 34 Agreements You would leave it at this part.. So agreements made and confirmed.. He didn't tell her about Dru's powers.. thrall. Enjoyed. Next part coming soon, I promise! And Dru's thrall will come up a bit later... Thanks for reviewing! Love the way you had Buffy and Giles meet. Loved chatty Willow. And great way to end the chapter. I really glad that I'm reading this as a complete story. As a WIP, if I had to wait between this chapter the next, I think I might get a bit grumpy. LOL! Thank you! Introducing the Scoobies was one of the trickier parts for me in this story. There is something nice about reading things once they're complete. :) Orpheus 02/16/2008 10:15 am 33 Histories Me heart your story!! O and I totally have grammar skills...I just refuse to exercise them. But seriously I'm in love and if you ever stop writing and updating I will suffer withdrawls so severe I'll make the Scourge look like dust bunnies. Granted they'll be evil dust bunnies-but dust bunnies none the less...what was my point here...O YES PWEASE UPDATE AND NEVER STOP. heart, Orpheus Thank you so much! I can't say what it means that people are enjoying the story so much! Don't worry, I won't stop! No writer's block, and the entire story is planned! Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you keep enjoying! sirc 02/13/2008 04:23 pm 33 Histories Great chapter! :) Thank you! Deb 02/11/2008 10:06 am 33 Histories Lovely twist that you have for Spike. Where will his loyalties stay? Enjoying your fic. Thank you so much! Glad you're liking! Cas 02/11/2008 03:34 am 33 Histories I've been putting off reading this, and now I know why. I am both appalled and overjoyed that you say you are only 1/2 way thru. I don't know how I am going to wait that long for the rest of it! Terrific story. Well plotted, well written and characterized. Thank you. Thank you so much! It always means a lot when people think I have good characterization. As for waiting to read, I completely get that. It's hard following WIPs (especially several at once), all that waiting.... :) But I promise frequent updates! Thanks for reviewing! spike is just a tad angry. 'm sure he will get over it quickly. very good read, thank you. Hehe, yeah, he will. :) Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 02/10/2008 03:49 pm 33 Histories Oh dear, this might get complicated! Love this story! Hehe, just a bit complicated. Thanks for reviewing! oh, love that ending line of Spikes. brilliant, as always. will be waiting. ~Liz Thanks so much! IT 02/10/2008 05:47 am 33 Histories And the fun is about to begin! Just what will Spike do? Thanks for the update! Well, he'll bitch and moan, but we all know he's going to help Buffy. :) Though he might have some problems with Drusilla.... Thanks for reviewing! jess 02/10/2008 05:40 am 33 Histories Cool keep it coming did angel really loose his soul and to whom. He lost his soul to Darla, when he became happy on sire's blood, which was implied by Spike in chapter 17. Thanks for reviewing! Ah, the plot thickens. Interesting that Spike already has some sort of history with this Angelus. Yeah, Spike was part of their group for a while (well, a long while), as he tells Buffy in chapter 17. Thanks for reviewing! Just a little note to let you know that I've been reading and enjoying this story very much! Thank you so much! It's always nice to know people are enjoying it! Ooooo Spike is not happy. Good thing he 1. has a code of honor and 2. loves Buffy (even if he doesn't realize it yet). GREAT update! This is going to be a wonderful group dynamic here (and I'd love Wes and Fred to join the group too but it's okay if not). Congratulations on the nomination, it deserves it as do you. Kathleen Glad you like! Yeah, Spike's not going to leave Buffy alone, not knowing Angelus the way he does. Though Wes and Fred (and Cordelia) will be staying in L.A. As a few things come to light later *cough*Spike*cough* Giles will be making some angry phone calls to Wes... Thanks for reviewing! 07/01/2010 10:11 pm 32 Meetings :) :-) 05/16/2010 03:48 am 32 Meetings :) sirc 02/13/2008 04:02 pm 32 Meetings Great chapter! :D Thank you! Smart girl our Buffy! She's going to have lots of questions when Spike arrives. I think he'll be astounded. Love the intro's, good Willow voice from before she got too cocky. Lovely Giles as he was in the beginning....not hardened. Kathleen When Spike arrives, he will be astounded, for several reasons... :) Glad you liked Willow and Giles! Yeah, I'm going for "old school" Willow, before she got all control-freaky and magic addicted. In general, I think things will have a season 3/4 feel to them. Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 02/08/2008 10:15 am 32 Meetings Ooh, ooh, ooh. Love it. Wonder how that's going to go down. Thanks so much! More coming soon! Deb 02/08/2008 08:42 am 32 Meetings Having such fun reading this story. Can't wait for Spike to roll into town. She indeed does have the real Spike on her hands. What will she do?!!! Thank you so much! Spike coming to town soon, and Buffy and Spike will definitely be having a talk. Thanks for reviewing! dramionelurver 02/08/2008 05:12 am 32 Meetings oh, loved it. that ending part was great. can't wait for more. ~Liz Thank you so much! Glad you liked it! Oh crap, indeed! LOL Hehe. Surprise, Buffy! Thanks for reviewing! IT 02/08/2008 04:01 am 32 Meetings And now the real fun begins. Just what will Buffy tell Giles? Thanks for the update. Well, Buffy won't be telling Giles anything for a while. As in, she won't be telling him until he finds out. :) Thanks for reading! Pam S 02/08/2008 03:26 am 32 Meetings Hello Sunnydale. And to Spike's family.. enjoyed.. Thank you so much! OH crap indeed. Can't wait for Giles to find out about Buffy's deal. Giles is so sweetly earnest. Well, Giles won't be finding for a while.... He actually won't even be the first one to find out. Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed! 07/01/2010 10:07 pm 31 Adjustments :) :-) 05/16/2010 03:31 am 31 Adjustments :) You know, I think what really appeals about this story is that you do such a good job of portraying what it would be like to be a Slayer. The show always seemed to make it look effortless--the actual physical training and strengthening of instincts. Ten more chapters! Yeah, we never really saw Buffy come into it on the show. We saw her first attempt at staking a vamp in LA, and then she's in Sunnydale, full Slayer, in season 1. And while she does get progressively better as the show goes on, we never saw her really trying to figure out the Slayer stuff in the beginning. It was something I wanted to explore, particularly with the perspective of someone slightly older. 02/07/2008 06:31 am 31 Adjustments very good chapter, thank you. love the last line. sure that giles will be impressed when he finds out spike is i town. Well, impressed might not be the right word... :) But Giles won't be finding out for a while, anyway. Thanks for reviewing! OMFG you have to add the next chapter Hehe, and that wasn't even that much a cliffhanger. Next chapter coming this weekend (maybe even Thursday). Thanks for reviewing! Oooo - I just knew Spike was being a bad boy behind Buffy's back. She should figure out some way to deliver her blood without Spike biting her so it won't hurt so much and she can control the amount. Which you probably already thought of. Well, technically, he's not doing it behind her back, since he's not working for her until he gets to SD. As for the biting, well, maybe it won't be hurting so much later.... *evil grin* Thanks for reviewing! IT 02/03/2008 01:16 am 31 Adjustments Thanks for the update. Looking forward to more. Thank you so much! sirc 02/02/2008 02:10 pm 31 Adjustments Great chapter Thank you! Ah, so much still a vampire and yet, here's the little blonde girl who already has him making promises and keeping her safe. :) Congrats on the noms, BTW. Thank you for the congrats! Yep, Spike is well on his way to being Slayer-whipped. :) Thanks for reading! ya_lublyu_tebya 02/02/2008 01:27 pm 31 Adjustments Great update as usual. Can't wait to see what happens in old Sunnyhell. More please! Thank you so much! More Sunnydale coming soon! Oh my, he's going to have a bit of trouble staying on the wagon isn't he? Great update. Looking forward to the Sunnydale portion of the story. Looking forward to meeting Giles too. He'll likely have something to say about Spike in the picture LOL. Kathleen Well, technically, he's not on the wagon yet, since he's not working for Buffy until he gets to SD. Hehe, Giles will have something to say, but he won't be finding out for a while. Spike is going to be Buffy's dirty little secret. (But no worries, no Spike bashing like when he was her dirty little secret on the show in S6.) :) Thanks for reviewing! Sam 02/02/2008 05:10 am 31 Adjustments yeh, he won't get anywhere with her if he keeps that up. i somehow don't really see this spike not killing anymore, he doesn't seem capable of it, even with slayer blood. i just hope he doesn't do anything stupid enough to get staked. Well, he was not killing those two weeks when he was working for Buffy, so he's done it before, though maybe not for as long. Thanks for reviewing! Pam S 02/02/2008 04:51 am 31 Adjustments Spike.. a little bit to the left of vampire/man.. And the only thing that might pull him center is Buffy.. his human conscience.. Waiting to see what happens in Sunnydale with Spike's family. Enjoying. Yep, anything he does will be for Buffy. Glad you're enjoying! :-) 05/16/2010 03:26 am 30 Contracts :) Wow! This just gets better and better!!!! Great plot, right-on characterizations, snapy dialog, and polished writing style. You should be really proud of your story. Thank you so much! I'm thrilled that you're enjoying it so much! I look forward to reading those additional 30 chapters - very much enjoying this story - like how your started with AU human Buffy and then Buffy Slayer - nice difference. Thank you! I'm glad you're liking it so much! good read, thank you. loved the a/n. very happy this is only a mid point. Glad you're looking forward to the rest! Thanks for reviewing! sirc 01/27/2008 11:14 am 30 Contracts Well done! :) Thank you! Ooo, Wesley's onto Buffy already. excellent. Thanks for reviewing! Lovely and looking forward to the next 30 BTW. Good bargain. Buffy may not realize how smart she has been until much later but this is the best insurance policy she could have purchased. Kathleen Thank you so much! Yes, definitely the best insurance, just get your very own backup vampire! :) May be slightly hard to find, but well worth the price. Thanks for reviewing! 01/26/2008 03:05 pm 30 Contracts keep er coming Thank you! Deb 01/26/2008 11:24 am 30 Contracts Just ran across your story and read straight through. Very intriguing story and I love how you've brought us this far. Looking forward to your updates. Indeed she's made a deal with the Devil, course he's her devil, she just doesn't want to admit it. Oh yes, Spike is definitely her very own devil. Thank you for the compliments, and I hope you keep enjoying! I have enjoyed the Wes, Fred, and Cordelia scenes. You did a great job of capturing their personalities (characterization) while still make the adjustments to their backgrounds that you needed for your story. I liked Wes’s final gift to Buffy and that he was her first watcher, albeit an unofficial one. Thank you! I'm always thrilled when people compliment me on characterization. Thanks for reading! :-) 05/16/2010 03:11 am 29 Admissions :) Ooh, I like where this is going! Looking forward to reading more. Thank you so much! Wow! This story just keeps getting better and better! I'm so glad you asked me to beta--I'm so getting the better end of the deal by reading this story. Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much! I started reading this on another site (and was really bad about not leaving a review) when I saw the update here and that there was 20 additional chapters, it made my night. I am really enjoying the story, not just the plot and action but also how well it flows. I like the set-up you have created between Spike and Buffy with them getting to know each other before she is called, and the interesting differences it has made. Thank you for my evening’s entertainment and I am looking forward to following the rest of the story. I assume the other site was either Elysian Fields or FFN. Not that long ago I was invited to post at EL, and I had put off posting at FFN, because of *cough* unfinished stories from another fandom that are there. So I've been posting a chapter on both every other day or so until I catch up to where I am on the BSV and SR. I'm glad you enjoyed catching up so much, and thank you for the compliments! I'm trying to be as original as possible, and trying not to use things that have been done before, besides the obvious threads from canon that I've tweaked. I'm glad you're enjoying! IT 01/22/2008 06:57 am 29 Admissions I've just finished reading through from the beginning and I can't wait to see what happens next! It's refreshing to see Spike and Buffy interact without their usual baggage. Thanks for an interesting story. Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! buffy struck a hell of a deal. even miss edith thinks so. fun read, thank you. Glad you enjoyed! sirc 01/21/2008 09:37 pm 29 Admissions Well done! Thanks so much! dannii 01/20/2008 11:58 am 29 Admissions LOVE IT Thank you! Nice bargain Buffy...that'll put him right off LOL. They can deny all they want but the feelingswill out. Nice update, logical reasoning and clever way to make it happen. Kathleen Yeah, what better way to get rid of an obsessed vampire than to give him your magical blood? :) The feelings will definitely out. Buffy might not quite realize it yet, but she has entered into a physical relationship of an entirely different kind with Spike. Glad you liked it, and thanks for reading! Wonderful chapter; love the negotiations b/n B & S; and love the flashes to Sunnydale; can't wait to see what happens b/n the Scourge; please update again soon, I'm dying to see what happens next!!! Thank you so much! Only one more chapter and then on to SD! 01/19/2008 10:19 pm 29 Admissions ooh, very nice ending. Thank you! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/19/2008 08:44 pm 29 Admissions Ohh, interesting!! Is Spike still an Aurelian in this fic? 'Coz that might complicate things... Yep, he's Aurelian. Which won't complicate so much as cause a nasty surprise... Thanks for reviewing! Pam S 01/19/2008 08:15 pm 29 Admissions So now we know that Faith is dead.. dead. And Spike has been hired as a trainer/body guard for blood.. Didn't hear that she said he couldn't kill for blood. I assume that is what she meant since she is giving him hers. Sunnyhell.. getting more interesting .. and the training and sparring should make a great read.. he is fighting his feelings for her.. human and slayer Enjoyed.. Hello Miss Edith LOL Yeah, Faith's no longer with us. Well, Buffy hasn't said that Spike couldn't kill, yet. She will be giving him the 'terms' of the business deal. Yes, Miss Edith... Glad you enjoyed, thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 02:43 am 28 Sessions :) now that is the way to stop a conversation. very good read, thank you. Thanks so much! sirc 01/21/2008 09:30 pm 28 Sessions great chapter! :) Thank you! Brittany 01/18/2008 05:09 am 28 Sessions You are EVIL for leaving me hanging like this!!! Sorry! :) Thanks for reading! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/17/2008 04:38 pm 28 Sessions Ohhh, good. Can't wait to see what his answer is. Glad you liked it! OH HO!!! Buffy is smart. I think she has also figured out her life expectancy will go up quite a bit if Spike trains her as well as watches her back. If he's in love with her (and we KNOW he is even if he doesn't) she'll survive much much longer, especially against his family. Excellent. Kathleen Yeah, Buffy's got a thing or two cooking in that regard. Thanks for reading! You are cruel, nasty and mean!!! What a place to leave it!!! OOOOHHH MY GOD! I can't wait to hear his answer; typical Spike bluster, I suppose, denying it, right?? More story, please!!! Nope, no bluster, they're actually going to have an honest conversation that lays out everything so far, and sets up what is to come. (No worries though, no rehashing, and will be nice, but not really fluffy.) Thanks for reviewing! jess 01/17/2008 04:37 am 28 Sessions okay that was just mean... ;) *evil grin* Thanks for reviewing! :) Pam S 01/17/2008 03:16 am 28 Sessions Girl is "to the point".. not messin' around. And I do like the temper of their relationship. Him with all the help.. and her with the I'm not worried that he would do me harm. Is Spike gobsmacked now ? LOL Just a little gobsmacked. :) Glad you're liking it, thanks for reviewing! Great question, Buffy. Good sparring scene. Glad you liked it! Whoa! Didn't see that one coming. Can't wait to see how/if he answers it! Hehe, glad I can still keep people guessing! Thanks for reviewing! 07/01/2010 04:54 pm 27 Burdens :) :-) 05/16/2010 02:34 am 27 Burdens :) Really enjoyed this chapter. That Spike stepped in. The conflict Buffy is going through. Nicely done. Thank you! Buffy and Spike are both a little conflicted... not too impressed with the corporate retirement plan, is she? very good read, thank you. Yep, it was a wake up call. Glad you liked! Good fight and sparring scenes. Love the way Spike can't exactly make up his mind what he wants to do with Buffy. Or, Wesly either. Glad you thought so! I was a little unsure about my ability to write action bits. Thanks for reviewing! Wonderful view of Spike's inner tormoil. He's not sure how much she means to him or WHAT she means to him only that she does in a big way. Once he figures out his heart the rest will be quick and easy to decide. Excellent. Kathleen Thank you so much! Yeah, Spike's a little confused, and torn between what he's feeling and what he thinks he should be feeling. Thanks for reading! sirc 01/12/2008 09:38 pm 27 Burdens Well done Thank you! Wondered when Buffy would get the head's up about the early expiration date; it's fun to watch Spike's confusion about his feelings; can't wait tos ee what he finally decides! Please update again soon! Glad you're liking it, thanks so much! :-) 05/16/2010 02:30 am 26 Decisions :) always was a fan of faith's "want, take, have" sophomoric philosophy. very good read, thank you. Hehe, who doesn't love bad girl Faith? Thanks for reading! Liked your description of the hellmouth and naughty Faith. Boo on jobs. Glad you're enjoying it! Damm, Wesley is such a moron. Already trying to control Buffy and now sending her off to the hellmouth in the hopes that Spike wouldn't follow. And who cares if she shows great promise, that's for the future, she going to be fighting powerful vampires now. I'm hoping for more Spike/Buffy interaction, don't really care what Wesley and Fred are up too. And a possible good thing about Spike moving to the hellmouth is giving Angelus a much deserved beating. Well, it was the Council's idea, not Wesley's. But there will be plenty of Spuffy interaction soon! Thanks for reviewing! Whoa - like the way you're bring Sunnydale into this story - not to mention the other characters. Thanks so much! I was a bit nervous about bringing Sunnydale up, but I've always intended for the story to go there. Thanks for reading! Sorry to hear about the slow-down in updates, but congrats on the new job!!! Awesome chapter; I love how your Buffy is all "ho-hum, so a vampire drank some of my blood, big deal!" Such a change from Joss's Buffy! Can't wait for more; congrats again! Thanks! Sorry to hear about the slow-down in updates, but congrats on the new job!!! Awesome chapter; I love how your Buffy is all "ho-hum, so a vampire drank some of my blood, big deal!" Such a change from Joss's Buffy! Can't wait for more; congrats again! Hehe, that "big deal" attitude will be important later. Thanks for reviewing! I can SO see bad girl Faith with Angelus just as you have written it. It is also quite hot and taht surprised me (not a big Angelus fan in a sexual way). Yup...Spike will follow, especially since she'll be up against his "family" and he knows how they are. Kathleen Hehe, I tried to think of the best way to show Angelus and Faith together, and this seemed to be it. And it surprised me too! :) I didn't really start out writing it to be hot, but maybe it's hard to write unhot sex? Well, Buffy isn't (intending to) tell Spike she's leaving, and right now she doesn't know it's his family. Wesley neglected to mention that. Thanks for reviewing! Sasha 01/04/2008 06:40 pm 26 Decisions Well, that was disturbing, but faith had it coming for being such a slut. i have to say that i think i liked this story more before buffy found out she was the slayer. she might have given spike more of a chance then, i can't believe they just forget all the times he was protecting her. no one just thought of the fact he sucked her blood to close up the wound so she wouldn't bleed to death. i don't believe that he would hurt her, but buffy is stupid if she thinks he won't follow her to sunnydale, especially if his family is involved. i just hope we get some more spuffy interaction soon, and i'm glad for buffy to be leaving, wesley is starting to get on my nerves. Sorry you liked it before she was the Slayer. But her being the Slayer has less to do with her issues with Spike than his killing does. She left him when she saw him kill that girl in the alley, before she was the Slayer. Though Spike really wasn't closing up her wound, he just wanted a little blood. Hehe, is my Wesley getting on your nerves, or does Wesley in general get on your nerves? :) Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 02:24 am 25 Moves :) buffy was doing reasonably well, and enter the council. mom's moving to the hellmouth, and spike is sucking her blood. how is her day going? very good read, thank you. Thanks for reviewing! sirc 01/04/2008 03:31 pm 25 Moves well done :) Thank you! Ooo that was so gross. SPike is being very naughty. Yes, naughty Spike! Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 01/02/2008 05:32 pm 25 Moves Loved these last few updates. Love stalky Spike, very amusing. Keep up the good work. Glad you're enjoying it! Stalky Spike is always fun. Hum...enter Giles and Sunnydale...interesting! So the Council found out about Buffy. This will be neat. Nice update to start the year. Happy new year! Kathleen Off to Sunnydale we go... Happy new year! Oooooohhhh, what a place to leave it!!! You are a cruel cruel person; curse you! *Panics as author stomps away* Wait, wait, no I don't!!! You're great, awesome story! End the chapter whenever you like, you're the boss!! LOL! Love the machinations to get Buffy to the Hellmouth; it'll be interesting to see if Wesley bothers to fill her in on that; and is Faith warning Buffy about a relationship with a vampire, or to not mess up being a slayer?? Can't wait for more, please update again soon! Aw, that wasn't such a cliffhanger. :P Yes, Buffy's going to the Hellmouth, Wesley will give her some more info, though. As for Faith, she's more warning her about the Slayer part, but the vampire relationship part will be a little of it. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/16/2010 02:19 am 24 Predators :) Liked this: Spike clamped his hand over her mouth and pushed her into the wall. “Gloves are off now, kitten. I’ll tell you the same thing I first told the Watcher. You shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you. See, he knows how to pick his fights. There are a lot better things you could be doin’ than worryin’ about me.” Over his shoulder, Buffy saw Wesley give a barely perceptible nod. And I'm curious about this: As Wesley started after them—making sure Fred was beside and not behind him—he realized that Buffy and Spike were bickering like lovers, not fighting like mortal enemies. Not that he particularly wanted Buffy to have to face off against Spike (because right now she’d lose, a voice whispered), but why did his Slayers always sleep with vampires? Who did Faith sleep with? Thank you so much! Oh, Faith got around... good chappie, thank you. wes' chapter ending comment is a bit of an understatement. Yeah, nothing is ever that simple with Spike. Glad you enjoyed! sirc 12/30/2007 01:20 pm 24 Predators Well done! :) Thank you! Pam S 12/30/2007 12:45 pm 24 Predators Excuse the second comment... “No. You got it backward. You’re just the same as her.†Been thinking about this.. did Spike kill the other slayer to protect Buffy. Maybe just my convoluted logic. She glared at him. “Have you ‘eaten’?†Doesn't mean he killed someone.. he was brought "food" I believe at Buffy's home when he was protecting her.. need to go back and reread.. Enjoying the frequent updates..I like Spike as a vampire.. but of course befuddled by his attraction and love for Buffy. And the banter between the two is great. And as Wes said.. lovers not enemies. The "just the same as her" line referred to the girl that Buffy saw Spike killing in the alley. And she was just a girl, nothing to do with the Slayer. And, big oopsie on my part. Spike is definitely still killing. Originally, the "Have you eaten" line was something like "Have you killed someone?" but I didn't like the way it sounded. I changed it, but I didn't mean for it to give the impression that Spike isn't killing, because he is, and he's not going to change so quickly. But I just went and changed the line to "Did you eat someone tonight?" Which I guess could be read as him not drinking all, but it's less ambiguous than "eaten." Anyway, sorry for any confusion, and thanks for pointing it out! pfeifferpack 12/30/2007 04:30 am 24 Predators Maybe once Spike thinks about his choices and the benefits to certain ones he'll have that epiphany too. LOL Really good update. Spike is already in deeper than a one night stand and more than his libido is interested even if he hasn't put two and two together. Ditto Buffy....had she not seen the kill she's likely still be all over him. Kathleen Yeah, if Buffy hadn't seen Spike killing, she wouldn't have a problem with him, even with being the Slayer. Spike is more hung up on the Slayer issue than she is. Thanks for reviewing! Was wondering when Wes would point out the connection that Spike has with Slayers; awesome chapter; love the banter b/n B & S; can't wait to see how this progresses; is B going to ask S to stop killing?? Hee hee; also can't wait for more Spuffy goodness! Love this story; please update again soon! Well, Buffy will ask Spike to stop killing, in a roundabout way, but to say more would spoil it. :) Glad you're enjoying! Great chapter G - I loved the Spike lurking around driving everyone crazy. "Wasn't lurking, I was standing about." LOL Glad you like it, cause he's going to be doing it for a while. :-) 05/16/2010 02:11 am 23 Glimpses :) richards appears to be a quick study. good read, thank you. Yeah, you shouldn't get on the bad side of a vampire. :) Thanks for reviewing! sirc 12/28/2007 10:38 pm 23 Glimpses Great chapter! :D Well done! Thanks so much! pfeifferpack 12/27/2007 03:32 am 23 Glimpses Oh yeah.....A strong Buffy with a smitten Spike having her back. Just the way I like them. Lovely update. Got a feeling she was channeling Faith in her dream. Cool. Kathleen Oh yeah, Spike's got it bad. :) And yep, Buffy was seeing Faith. Thanks for reviewing! You'd have to be a major idiot if you piss off both a Vampire Slayer and a Master Vampire in the same night. Hehe, yeah you would. :) Thanks for reviewing! Aw - loved this glimpse of Buffy coming into her own. and the way Spike is following her. Glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing! Oh, thanks for the great Christmas prezzie; new Chapter!!! Can't wait for more Spike & Buffy; love the way this story is handling the Slayer line; please update again soon! Glad you think I'm doing the Slayer bit well. I was a little nervous about it at first. Thanks for reading! Come on - wasn't Spike hungry? Like the new tough Buffy. Eh, I figure Spike knows that if he killed that guy, another one would come, so better to have one, alive, terrified one. :) Thanks for reading! :-) 05/16/2010 01:33 am 22 Hunters :) good read, thank you. seems spike is lurking. Glad you're enjoying! sirc 12/28/2007 10:32 pm 22 Hunters Well done :) Thank you! Oh boy, Spike's got it bad. Wesley for Watcher - that could get you killed. Aww, Wesley's not so bad. At least by the time he was on Angel he wasn't. But Wesley won't be her Watcher for long. Thanks for reviewing! Hee - I think we all know what vampire is tingling her senses. :) Yep. :) He's so stalking her. So Spike's attempts to follow her without her knowing may be hampered by her new Slayer senses. Interesting that he killed other vamps to try and protect her, and seems to want a relationship with her even though she is the Slayer and he doesn't think she'll want to reciprocate. Pretty soon, he'll be following her outright, so the Slayer senses won't matter on that part. Thanks for reading! Lurking Spike is always fun; I especially liked your use of Wesley's line "a good Slayer is a cautious Slayer". That was great; awesome chapter; please update again soon! Thanks! I liked to use a few lines here and there from the show. Thanks for reviewing! Methinks the tingles are Spike watching her back! Oh dear that old line from the Council about the human being replaced...... Wesley should know better by now but I guess once a believer always a believer. Lovely update. Kathleen Yes, Spike's giving her the tingles. You can take the Watcher out of the Council, but you can't take the Council out of the Watcher. :) Well, I thought I had to put a little something in there about vampires and the general opinion on the soul/the vampire/the human, but it really won't be an issue like in the series (i.e. "you're souless so you're evil and can't feel anything"), because we won't have a souled Angel for comparison in this fic. Thanks for reviewing! ya_lublyu_tebya 12/20/2007 08:44 pm 22 Hunters Loving this story. That was a very chapter too. Can't wait to see what happens when Spike and Buffy meet again. Thank you! Buffy and Spike meeting coming soon! :-) 05/16/2010 01:27 am 21 Lessons :) So Faith was it. Now the question is, did she actually stay dead or did she just die for a little bit and then come back to life, like Buffy did with the Master? Yep, Faith was it. More on her coming up... Thanks for reviewing! good read, thank you. so faith was the slayer who died. Yep, Faith got a little too involved with the wrong people. Thanks for reading! sirc 12/19/2007 10:43 pm 21 Lessons well done :) Thank you! No Spike?? Please, need to have Spike in next chapter! *Adult enters room and smacks Spikefan upside the head, shaking her head at the rudeness* Oh yeah, good chapter, too. Loved the training scenes. But, no Spike?? *Adult glances at author apologetically as she drags Spikefan from the room* Please update again soon!!! Not to worry! Spike will be in the next chapter, and those after it! I didn't really realize I had a Spike free chapter until I was done with it, but there it was. Thanks for reviewing! Nice way to get her started on slaying! Can't wait to read what's next! XXX Thank you! Yeah, we had to have a Slaying 101 chapter in here somewhere. :) I think Buffy is very lucky. Not only was Spike there before she was called and kept her safe but she has Wesley already on hand to help her train and learn. Bodes well for this Slayer. I just know Spike will be watching her back (and front and sides too for that matter). LOL Kathleen Yeah, Buffy's got all kinds of backup at hand, Spike, Wes... And Spike will so be watching all her parts. :) :-) 05/16/2010 01:22 am 20 Callings :) I love that she asked for the cliffnotes. LOL! And that she went to Wesley. Buffy has never been much of a reader, LOL. wtrees 07/30/2008 10:30 am 20 Callings Awesome! Fast paced...I read the whole thing in a blink, I could not stop. snappy dialogue (I'm amused with the matter of factly buffy and spike is dead on)...looking forward to the rest... Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! sirc 12/17/2007 04:58 pm 20 Callings Well done! :) Thanks so much! Oooo - the Handbook. And, why is Spike all Bad Moody? Looking forward to more. Hehe, well just because she has the Handbook doesn't mean she'll actually *read* it. And Spike's just a little depressed that Buffy turned into the Slayer. Thanks for reviewing! Yup, figured she was about to be the shiney new Slayer. Spike could be a big help right about now. We all know he's vested in her well being. I doubt he'll walk away now that she has a big target on her back. Excellent. Kathleen Gah! 'Shiny new Slayer,' I used that exact phrase in a future chapter. So if you see it, I swear I didn't steal it. No, Spike won't be walking away; however, he does have mixed feelings about her being the Slayer, and realizing he's attracted to said Slayer. Thanks for reading! 12/15/2007 09:03 pm 20 Callings very cool, i like the storyline. more pls Thanks, glad you're liking it! This is getting more interesting by the chapter! It's like I can actually see Buffy trying to absorb the new info, and I can hear Spike's slurred drunken voice, as he tries to come to terms with their falling apart! I know I'm repeating myself, but I truly LOVE this story! XXX *Smiles* Well, I love hearing that you love it. I'm glad you're enjoying, and hope you continue to do so! Awesome chappie; is there going to be more explaination about this group that hunts Potentials? Is that what Buffy is going to end up doing, taking them down? I hope Spike is going to help her become used to being a Slayer; he'd certainly know a lot about it! Can't wait for more, please update again soon! Well, the biggest explanation about the hunters was from Spike's source, I really don't have much else. They will get taken down, in a way, between Buffy and Spike, but I'm not setting them up to be the big bad. Thanks for reading! :-) 05/15/2010 07:56 pm 19 Shiftings :) Very interesting. And seems right that there would be a group of vamps doing just this. Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed! notwhomever 12/26/2007 03:00 am 19 Shiftings well written and interesting story line looking forward to more. Thank you so much! sirc 12/17/2007 04:53 pm 19 Shiftings great chapter! Thank you! Cool twist - like the Slayer Hunters. They're EVIL. Glad you like it! Thanks! buffy might not be going to see him again, but spike will be watching. very good chapter, thank you. Yeah, Spike will be stalking--er, watching. :) Oh-oh! I love this story, and I LOVE getting to work in the mornings because of when you post it:P It's a little before 9am here, so you just made my day, despite -or because of- the angst still evolving! Great update -once again! XXX Thank you! Glad to know I make your work day! AHA that makes sense. Actually it makes enough sense that I'm surprised enterprising demons didn't put something like this together on the show. I doubt Buffy will stay away even if she is Called. He's still protecting her, yup, Loves Bitch indeed. Kathleen Glad you think it works! Well, Buffy might be trying to stay away, but Spike will still be stalking--er, watching her. :) Thanks! Yay, now he has to go all Protecto-Spike, and save Buffy from the hunters! Love where you're going with this; can't wait to read more! Please update again soon! Well, he might not have to save Buffy so much from the hunters... Thanks for the review! :-) 05/15/2010 07:50 pm 18 Realities :) Better for her to see the real him now. Wesley did try to warn her. It was something Buffy wasn't going to get until she saw it, I think. Thanks for reviewing! and i was worried about the morning. very good read, thank you. Yeah, the morning was relatively tame. Glad you're enjoying! Oh oh reality bites (pun intended)...then again this is all new territory for Spike AND Buffy...they'll work it out. Still looking forward to finding out what the Slayer part is about. I know Spike will twist himself inside out if needed to keep Buffy in his life now that he wants her. Kathleen Reality bites, and so does Spike! Yeah, they'll find some middle ground...in a bit. Thanks for reading! Oh, Buffy. Did you think his blood always came in a bag? Buffy's been in de-nile. carryline 12/10/2007 11:55 am 18 Realities Hmm, reality bites... Wonder how Buffy's going to deal with it. Update soon and I'll find out :-) Good work! Well, we knew it had to happen sooner or later. Thanks for reading! sirc 12/10/2007 09:40 am 18 Realities great chapter :) Thank you! *Pouts* And I was so glad about that morning after... I hope they patch things up (though I still not condemn him for feeding -- what can I say? Dark Spike = Yummy!!!) Thanx for another great update! XXX Good morning after, bad evening after. What can I say, I had to keep up the Buffy tradition of discovering unpleasant things about the guy she just slept with. :) Thanks! Brittany 12/10/2007 05:02 am 18 Realities AWWWWW your making me all teary eyed!!! please updae soon!! Aw, sorry! Thanks for reading! Oh crap; I was wondering when the whole "He's a vampire, what does he eat" question was gonna come up; first I was worried about the morning after, and now this!!! And what a place to leave it! Please update again soon; need to know how they're gonna deal with this! Great story, btw! Absolutely love it! Thank you so much! Yeah, we all knew it was coming. Buffy didn't seem to, though. Good morning after, bad evening after. :) stacy 12/10/2007 03:18 am 18 Realities i don't see how they can have a relationship like this. spike doesn't have a soul, so he'll still be killing and slayer or not, buffy won't wanna be with him if he kills. he needs to decide if she's worth not killing for, or he might just end up losing her. i'm surprised she reacted like that though, it's not like she doesn't know what he is or something. Well yeah, but she hasn't really had to deal with the vampire part yet. And Spike will have to make some decisions. Thanks for reviewing! 12/10/2007 02:41 am 18 Realities Oh crap. Need more please Thanks for reviewing! Pam S 12/10/2007 02:20 am 18 Realities Reality Bites... wondering if Spike still killed for his supper. Guess a man/vampire for hire would have no problem killing for blood. Enjoying. Waiting to see who is calling her the Slayer and sending vamps to kill her.. Dru is my guess. Yeah, killing without remorse is pretty much killing without remorse. Ah, several people have guessed Dru. Sorry to disappoint, but it's not her, though she will be making an appearance later. Thanks for reviewing! That was fun. Grin. :-) 05/15/2010 07:44 pm 17 Stories Thank you! Very sweet golden. I think you owed us the whole story about what happened to Dru in Prague, tho. You know, I didn't even think about it until you said that because Dru vaguely getting injured is such a sort of accepted part of canon. Though I'm not sure I could have come up with a good story for her apparently mystical weakness. Thanks for writing! sirc 12/08/2007 08:35 pm 17 Stories Well done :) Thank you! well we are not to morning yet, but seems very promising. they are actually talking. very good read, thank you. Aw, the morning after won't be too bad. Glad you're enjoying! I know I'm repeating myself, by I love-love-love this story! I love how they both reacted afterwards, love that they are honest (love the promise of more sex *snickers*) Just LOVE it ALL! XXX Thank you so much! Hehe, the promise of more sex will have to stay implied, I haven't graduated to writing smut yet. :) Next chapter will jump to the morning after. Hope you keep loving it! Lovely sharing and promise of a future there. Pillow talk of the necessary kind (and clever you to give the back story that way *G*). Kathleen Glad you thought so! I had to get Spike talking somehow. I love the byplay between them; the nervousness of the one-night stand issue on Buffy's side, and Spike's telling of his "life" story. Can't wait for more! Thank you so much, and thanks for reading! Sigh. Thanks. :-) 05/15/2010 07:38 pm 16 Collisions Thank you! Loved the self-defense lesson and the hot end to this chapter. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! keep your eyes open. Second, none of that girly slappin’ crap. - LOL. Nice scene with Spike teaching Buffy some defense moves. Good Spuffy, too. Thanks! Glad you liked it! they both needed that interlude. see what the morning brings. so not a slayer. yet? very good read, thank you. Glad you're enjoying it! Sigh......nice spontaneous sex there! So not a Slayer but mistaken for one...hum....interesting. Kathleen Spontaneous seemed to be the way to go with first time spuffy sex. :) Thanks for reading! carryline 12/04/2007 12:23 pm 16 Collisions Glad they finally got that out of their system! Keep up the good work! Hehe, a little UST taken care of. :) Yeyyy!I've been waiting for this! So glad they got together! And I'm sooo intrigued about the whole 'Slayer' thing! Can't wait for more! Thanx for a great update! XXX Hehe, it was time for a little spuffy. :) Thanks for reading! Thank God! Spuffy, Spuffy, Spuffy! Loved the "training" scene; can't wait to read more about the Slayer angle; please update again soon, really enjoying this story! Hehe, the training scene was a lot of fun to write. Thank you! Brittany 12/03/2007 11:48 pm 16 Collisions YAH!!!! im luvin the spuffy moment!!!! please give me more!! Thanks! More coming soon! 07/01/2010 03:31 pm 15 Departures :) :-) 05/15/2010 07:23 pm 15 Departures :) And more great action here. :) Loved it. So she is now the slayer? Thank you! (Nope, not yet...) :) sirc 12/06/2007 01:46 am 15 Departures Oh, so they *are* after the slayer, too? You did a good job with the distracting, I have to tell you :P Hehe, thank you! But Buffy's just got all sorts of people after her. :) pretty_in_fangs 12/03/2007 05:16 pm 15 Departures Hee. She may not have paid any attention to what they called her, but I'll bet Spike's got questions. Yeah, he's got questions. :) Thanks for reviewing! Hah - knew Spike wouldn't be able to stay away long. Yeah, but he didn't know that! :) "little Slayer." should make this even more interesting. good chapter, thank you. Glad you think so! carryline 12/01/2007 03:57 pm 15 Departures Ohh, very good! Update soon. Can't wait to see how this works out. Thank you! Update coming tomorrow! Whoa! Surprise, the danger isn't over? And yay, Spike, for keeping watch. :) Keeping watch, stalking, same diff. :) But yay Spike anyway! Yeay! Now he can't go! She needs him, and I could just see the scene where he grabs her by the arm and turns her around to face him! Can't wait for the Spuffiness, I bet it'll be yummy!!! XXX Glad you could see it so clearly! Thanks for reading! Veronica 12/01/2007 07:57 am 15 Departures Interesting story! Definitely looking forward to more! Thank you! More coming soon! Slayer huh...well that alters things a wee bit! Interesting development here. Lovely update. Kathleen Only a little bit, hehe! Glad you're still enjoying! Awesome chapter; can't wait to read more about the Slayer angle; please update again soon!!! Thank you! Update coming tomorrow, and glad you're enjoying! Awesome chapter; can't wait to read more about the Slayer angle; please update again soon!!! Thanks! :-) 05/15/2010 07:16 pm 14 Hits :) pretty_in_fangs 11/30/2007 04:29 am 14 Hits Fascinating. Thank you! Ouch - but he soooo had it coming! Come on, Wes. Lighten up. :) Aww, but someone had to be the voice of law-abiding and all that. :) Okay - Spike was a very bad boy. I love it. Thank you! Yeesss, Spike is baaad..... You know justice comes in many forms. I would call that an execution not a murder. Nice savage vampire Spike protecting his girl there. Got a feeling they're not in the complete clear yet. Kathleen I doubt Spike cares what anyone calls it. And justice, maybe, but as Smith pointed out, Spike does questionable things himself. Well, they're in the 'practically clear' as far as Smith & Co are concerned. Thanks for reviewing! Am I sick for not being turned off by the fact that Spike is so dark? Even if I am, I don't care:P I still love this fic, looking forward to more! XXX If you're sick, I must be even sicker. :) (Gah! And this was one of my favorite chapters to write!) Thanks for reading! I think that may be the best last line in a chapter I've ever read. Great job! Please update again soon! Thank you so much! As soon as that one came to me, I knew it had to be a chapter-ender. Glad you're enjoying! SpaceLord 11/28/2007 10:59 pm 14 Hits Sweet, brutal Spike is fun Spike but in all seriousness I do like this Spike with a lot of layers and contradictions a murderer but still has his own codes that he seems to live by. Glad you're enjoying! Thanks for reading! :-) 05/15/2010 07:02 pm 13 Tensions :) Now, I'm curious. You have me thinking. The cross on the neck thing is significant and I'm wondering how it all goes together, with the missing slayer and this Mr. Smith. Enjoying this. Thanks for reviewing! "...a loud, yet quiet place." that was a welcome break for buffy before returning to more tension. very good read, thank you I thought she needed a little biking goodness! Thanks for reviewing! carryline 11/27/2007 03:03 pm 13 Tensions Good chapter, keep up the good work! Wow, who'd have thought cutting your finger could be so sexy! Well done!! Hehe! Spike can make anything sexy! Thanks! I really loved the intensity of the small cut on finger scene. I could easily picture the fixed gaze of Spike on the blood. Loved Buffy's easy decision to let him enjoy her oopsie. Joyce knows at least some of it (wait till she finds out about the white slavery issue!). Wes is calling for Hank. Doubt he knows Spike is still on the job (even more motivated too). Excellent. Kathleen Hehe, a lil' bit of bloodplay goes a long way. LOL Hmm, I'm not sure Joyce will find out. Buffy will, eventually after all is said and done, but I'm not sure how much it will add to have Joyce in on it, since she's already leaving Hank, and since she's sort of peripheral character. Story wise, Buffy's finding out will have less to do with the bad guy Smith and Hank, and more to do with something that happens as a result of it. (Wow, that was long) And yeah, Wes thinks Spike is long gone. Glad you're enjoying it! Awesome chapter; love that Joyce is finally in the know about Hank's activities; is she gonna find out about Spike??? Love the interaction b/n B & S; great story; please update again soon!! Glad you're liking it! Hmm, Joyce might find out about Spike, but it's not coming anytime soon. 07/01/2010 03:22 pm 12 Answers :) :-) 05/15/2010 06:58 pm 12 Answers :) sirc 12/06/2007 01:30 am 12 Answers well done :) Thank you! "And I’m gone.†right. very good read, thank you. Hehe, he had to tell Wes something. Glad you're enjoying! Aha! White slavery, makes sense. I knew Spike would still be looking out for Buffy even with daddy being broke (that'll surprise HER though...and Wesley). I'm wondering if Faith (or another name if she isn't the Slayer)is dead. Wonder if Buffy is a potential. I'm on board for whatever story YOU want to tell here....it's a good one. Kathleen Yeah, Wesley will figure it out and be surprised. Buffy though, is still in the dark. And Faith's the Slayer. I know I didn't use her name, but I figured the 'torture for kicks' was a tipoff. Glad you're on board, cause we're just getting started. :) Thanks for reviewing! I'm thinking Spike is realizing he isn't as detached as he likes to think. Somehow I doubt he'll leave Buffy alone when there's some creep who kidnaps tourists to turn them into prostitutes after her. i wonder how he's going to spin his continued presence there even when he isn't getting paid. Oh, he's pretty detached. Just not where Buffy is concerned. :) Thanks for reading! Oh no! Buffy did her homework. Evil writer. That was too too scary. Haha! Yeah, she must be avoidy if she did homework! Thanks for the review! Still loving it! Can't wait for more! Brilliant story! XXX Glad you're still liking it! Thanks for reading! I knew he'd get involved! Hee hee hee! Awesome chapter; really love your take on the story, and can't wait to see how the Slayer angle plays in it. Great job, update again soon, please! Yeah, he's involved. :) Thanks for reading! 07/01/2010 03:19 pm 11 Explanations :) :-) 05/15/2010 06:52 pm 11 Explanations :) I really liked this part. “Sure. Fine,” he said, sounding just a bit exasperated with her. “Just so long as we’re clear that the door wouldn’t keep me out if I wanted in.” “Well…I’m still never coming out!” Buffy cringed as that last bit escaped her mouth. Way to sound like a six-year-old. “Oh, well. Makes my job easier. Not much chance of someone gettin’ you from in there. You might get hungry after a few days, though.” Was he snickering? I'm loving this story. Thank you so much! I'm glad you're liking it! I would love for you to write a back story to what Wesley said--"Spike and I had a run in in an alley, where he quite accidentally saved my life. Later I learned of him professionally, and we began a tense working relationship." It sounds intriguing! It wouldn't have to be a novel; even done as a short story it would be fascinating! Well, now that you've given me the idea, I might have to do it sometime. Probably a drabble, around 1000 words or so..... Yeah for Fred and Wesley dating. Wes gave a good explanation for why he works with Spike and why he doesn't try to take him out, but still doesn't necessarily like him. I love Wes and Fred together. Too bad they never really got a chance to be together in the series. Thanks for reading! Excellent - Spike isn't a good guy. In case 92 other people didn't tell you already, the centering thing is really annoying. Yeah, Spike's not really good. (Centering seemed to be the site.) Thanks for reviewing! I love Wes's involvement; I loved how his explaination of his relationship with SPike was so business like; no personal involvement whatsoever; it makes Spike seem so much colder then we know he is, and will probably make the eventual Spuffy that much more rewarding; excellent chappie; please update again soon!! Mm, maybe my Spike is a bit colder. But he can still be rash, and I hope the Spuffy will be rewarding! Thanks for reading! Brittany 11/20/2007 01:33 am 11 Explanations You can't leave me haning like this!! I need to know whats going to go on between spike and buffy now that she *knows* everything. Sorry for the suspense! Update coming later today. Thanks for the review! Sotia M. 11/20/2007 12:13 am 11 Explanations Reaaaaally liking this one! Please update soon!!! XXX Thank you! Update coming soon! Her subconscious already knows enough to trust him or she wouldn't just slip into cars with him LOL. Nice explanation on how he began to work with Wes and Fred and also his "morals" as they now stand. Rather like early chipped Spike he can and does play both sides depending on the reward sought. Wonder if he'll fall in love with this Buffy and if it will have the same effect on him...a final choice on the side for which he wishes to play? My guess is yes to both. Kathleen Yeah, Buffy's just a bit shocked right now, but she's hardly trying to get away from him. He is a bit like chipped Spike moral wise, except he's not chipped. :) You would be guessing correctly, LOL, but that choice will still be a long time coming. No fun without a little angst. Thanks for reviewing! :-) 05/15/2010 06:47 pm 10 Revelations :) I really enjoyed this chapter. Great way for her to find out. And I love that you have so much going on. Her frustration over they way he dealt with the kiss and then, bam, she's finding out he's a vampire. Thank you so much! Buffy does have a lot to deal with in this chapter, doesn't she? Very cool way to reveal that Spike is a vampire. I didn't see that one coming! I'm really enjoying the story. :-) Glad you liked! There's only so many ways to do the 'finding out' bit. She either sees him (game face), she doesn't see him (mirror), or he tells her. (I think that's all.) Anway, thanks for reviewing! sirc 12/06/2007 01:18 am 10 Revelations hehehe :P great chapter Glad you liked it! Yeah, just forget the fact that he saved her earlier, and didn't take any sort of advantage of her while she was drugged. Sometimes I could just slap Buffy for sheer stupidity. Aw, she's just having a freakout. She'll come round. Thanks for the review! Well that didn't go well. Then again has to be hard to realize the guy you kissed, and admitted wanting to kiss again is a vamp. I hope she gets over it soon, especially given the fact that those after her continue to up the ante. Yeah, she'll get over it. Thanks for reading! my, she took that well. very good , thank you. You think so? Others thought she took it not so well. Thank you for reviewing! Oops! Secret's out now. I'll be interested to see how she handles this. :) Yep, secret's out! Thanks for reviewing! Brittany 11/16/2007 02:45 am 10 Revelations YOU CANT LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THIS!!!! i *HAVE* to know what happens next!!!! PLEASE update soon! Ah, sorry! Update coming soon, I promise! sam 11/16/2007 12:22 am 10 Revelations i'm glad she finally found out, but i was hoping she would have reacted better than that. sure, i would be a little freaked, but he hasn't done anything to hurt her, and even saved her life. i hope she wouldn't start treating him like a monster now, like she did on the show. as far as i know, she's not the slayer here, so that gives me some hope. Buffy's just having a little freakout, finding out that vampires are real and all. She'll recover soon enough. Thanks for reading! OKay, she'll come around in time. She will think about how he has not hurt her in the least and will adjust. This Buffy is smart that way. Nice way to find the truth...the no reflection trick! Well done. Kathleen Yeah, she'll come around. And the reflection just seemed to be the way to go. Thanks! :-) 05/15/2010 06:43 pm 9 Parties :) sirc 12/06/2007 01:12 am 9 Parties Great chapter! :D Thanks! OOooooo nice save by the bodyguard! I can really picture this chapter quite well with all the costumes and the ball in progress. Nicely described. Off to read the next. Kathleen Yes, Spike in action! Thanks for the compliments! should not take long for spike to get a few answers. very good read, thank you. Hehe! Nope, Spike will get what he needs rather quickly... Ah - Spike is taking a chapter from Vamp Willow book. Good little action scene at the end. Spike better apply some mouth to mouth to help Buffy regain consciousness. Spike's down with the torture, a little finger breaking is always effective. And Buffy will regain consciousness on her own, but there will be some mouth to mouth regardless. :) cyndi 11/14/2007 06:02 am 9 Parties its so good! i dont want to stop reading it! cant wait for the net chapter!! I'm so happy people are liking it! Thanks for the review! cherie 11/14/2007 04:45 am 9 Parties loving it, great story, really enjoying reading it, cant wait to read more Glad you're enjoying it! The next chapter will be up soon! Go Spike! Yay! LOL Nicely done. Thank you! Yes, Spike gets to kick a little butt! What a place to leave it!!! Awesome story; please update again soon! I love the way you write Spike; you've really got his voice down! Hehe, cliffhanger, I know. :) And thank your for your compliments on my Spike voice! :-) 05/15/2010 06:35 pm 8 Inquiries :) I think this is the first time you actually said he was a vampire. It made me giggle because, of course, we Spuffy fans already knew that, but what if some outsider found the story and started reading it without knowing about BtVS? They might not have caught the clues, so wouldn't they have gotten a shock in this chapter?!!! :-) Hehe! And on the Spuffy Realm, which has human AU stories, I didn't put that he was a vampire in the summary until after the first few chapters, so besides the clues there wasn't anything to say that he was. sirc 12/06/2007 01:06 am 8 Inquiries Wow... I sure have some catching up to do! :P Great chapter Hope you enjoy! 'm sure spike doesn't really believe in coincidence. very good read, thank you. Thanks for the review! Ooo new developments are VERY interesting! I really like this story and am delighted with the updates. Kathleen And they'll keep developing! Thanks for the compliments! Aha, the plot thickens...:) Hehe, it's thickening! Thanks! Very interesting. Daddy dearest in trouble. A slayer (Faith?) lurking around. Faith will definitely be making an appearance. :-) 05/15/2010 06:28 pm 7 Clues :) Lida 01/14/2008 06:12 pm 7 Clues Great story so far, very enjoyable to read. Spike is so well written (as the rest of the story). Just one small comment - it's not Czechoslovakia anymore. It's the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, these two countries separated in 1993. Thank you so much for the compliments! (Yeah, but I figured whenever Spike was there it was Czechoslovakia, and had been for a long time, so he would probably talk about it that way.) Thanks for reviewing! Poor Buffy. Good thing Spike is there to teach her how to properly search a room and stuff. He could teach her how to pick locks next. Or hotwire a car! :) daddy dearest hasn't been forthcoming. good read, thank you. Thanks for reading! :-) 05/15/2010 06:25 pm 6 Dances :) I'm really curious as to who the slayer is. It's a mystery right now, LOL! Buffy's predecessor? Spike is so laconically Robert Mitchum. LOL. Hehe! Thanks for reading! very good read, thank you. seems spike may not have a great relationship with this slayer. Glad you're still enjoying! pretty_in_fangs 11/07/2007 05:55 am 6 Dances This story has me intrigued. I think I'll keep an eye on it. (: Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you do! Ohoh wonder if the Slayer knows Spike is one of the good guys. Nice chapter. Buffy is interested, at least she's starting to be and Spike has at least noticed her as a female not just a job. Kathleen Spike may end up wishing that he could think of Buffy as just a job. As for the Slayer, she's a mystery for now. :) And Spike may not be as good as he appears. Thanks for the review! Hee - somebody else put this through so I had to read it just like everybody else. Getting interesting... Thanks! Oooh, and the plot thickens. So, there's going to be a Slayer in this? Is Buffy the Slayer, or someone else? Maybe she's one and just doesn't know it yet, but I figure she would have been called when she was younger. Or if there is someone else, hopefully they wouldn't try and kill Spike. Yes, I have many questions...lol! I sometimes forget that Spike is a vampire here, if it wasn't for the blood being brought to him, cold hands, and then the whole mirror thing. I wonder how long he could hide that, but it's a good thing for the gem of amara. I guess that would be brought up soon enough. I'm really enjoying this story so far. Can't wait for more=) Oh, there's a Slayer. :) As for who she is and what she's doing, that will remain a mystery for a bit. (Actually, for longer than a bit. :) As for Spike hiding that he's a vampire, well he won't be for much longer! Thanks for reading! :-) 05/15/2010 06:17 pm 5 Exchanges :) I was pretty sure the Gem was the explanation for the day walking. :) I'm enjoying your AU. Yep, Spike has the gem, all right... Thanks for reviewing! Damn - I was hoping that Fred developed that 150 plus sun tan spray. The Buffy/Spike scenes are very cute. I bet Fred could do it! Something like that could be possible in the Buffyverse, since W&H did have the whole special sun proof glass. Thanks for reading! I SO knew it! Love this....I can see Spike doing this sort of work (especially after getting his soul). Tee hee Guiding Light ... I watched that for about 30 years until I got PO'd over some of the story and stopped! MUCH better than Passions. Cordy, as usual, sees the hotness of the local vamp. Buffy's sharing about seeing him in the towel was so perfectly in character for them too. Nicely done. Kathleen Yeah, Cordy knows what's what. Glad someone liked the Guiding Light bit! I never watched myself, but it seemed like a good soap to put in. Thanks for reading! great how cordy always goes right to the important things. very good read, thanks. Cordy's got a sharp eye! 07/01/2010 06:57 am 4 Indications :) :-) 05/15/2010 06:13 pm 4 Indications :) I'm really enjoying your dialogue. It's sharp and flows nicely. Thank you! Good Buffy and Spike scene. Assume you will reveal the reason why Spike can be out in the daytime in a convertible in the fullness of time. Yep. Glad you're enjoying it! i doubt buffy 'can do silence.' very good chapter, thank you. She is quite talky. :) Thank you! Very visual....well done! Like the budding relationship between protector and protected. Does this Spike have a gem of Amara type protection? Perhaps that ankle bracelet? Really loving this story. Kathleen Oh, Spike so has the gem of Amara. :) More about that later. Nova 10/31/2007 03:58 am 4 Indications interesting... thanks! Love the banter between Spike and Buffy. Can't wait for another chapter. They banter so well. :) Thank you! :-) 05/15/2010 06:10 pm 3 Introductions :) newbie fanfic reader 09/25/2009 06:41 pm 3 Introductions "... At least wear a coat that’s not floor length. And it’s almost eighty degrees, how can you stand to wear that anyway?” ... "“Not very stealthy, Mr. Bodyguard." lol Thank you! I like the way Buffy doesn't warm to Spike right away, although she naturally recognizes his hotness. Hehe, who wouldn't? :) A very interesting story, I can't wait for more. Thanks for the review! Really unique. I can really see Spike in this role. Nice. Kathleen Glad you're enjoying it! Nika 10/27/2007 05:06 am 3 Introductions This story is really good. Love Spike as a bodyguard vamp idea. Can't wait to see more. Glad you're enjoying it! :-) 05/15/2010 06:05 pm 2 Conversations :) Just starting to read this. Was waiting for it to be complete and then got really busy. Hope you don't mind lots of reviews? I'm intrigued at this point and I love your writing style. :) Nope, I don't mind a lot of reviews at all, LOL. I hope you enjoy the story! No biting that tasty Buffy bit, you naughty Spike. Hehe! Thanks for the review! nice relationship. very good read, thanks Glad you're enjoying it! You so have me intrigued. Who is really after her and what in the world will Wes do to help Spike get around in the daytime. Thanks for reviewing! Ooooh, intriguing!!! So Spike's still a vampire, huh?? Excellent premise; can't wait to read more; update again soon, please!!! Thanks for reading, hope you keep enjoying it! Neat set up....don't think I've seen this used. I'm in. Kathleen Thank you! I'm trying to be as original as possible. :-) 05/15/2010 05:37 pm 1 Problems :) Certainly a different alternative universe. Intriguing. So glad that this is showing up on this site. Thank you! well, if buffy is 'bitchy buffy,' at least spike will be well compensated. good start, thank you. Thanks for the review! Yes I'd let Spike guard my body *G*. Interesting start. Kathleen Thank you! | |||
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