This is so very beautiful, and all chapters are well written and insightful. Thank you:)

You know, this hiatus of new stuff does have a benefit or two...forcing us to go out and read older stuff.  I know I was going to do that anyway, but life is always in the way.  (I should be making dinner for hungry kids and hubby right now, in fact) but now, with nothing new, I can come and read lovely things like this.
The light in the midst of darkness was a wonderful image of what Buffy was doing.  Thank you.

Great Christmas story - love how you brought around your idea of Hope with the ending -

I"d never thought about how adding Dawn would take all Buffy's real memories away, and how that would feel.  Wow.

sweet, and real.  Thanks for sharing.

delightful. thank you.

Now you've made me cry.

Oh, what a bittersweet christmas story. Thanks for the thoughts.

very sweet ending. It's telling that all Spike wanted was for someone to really want him around for the holidays. I'm glad he was able to give Buffy what she needed to reclaim her hope and that she was able to return the favor, even without knowing it.

A Hellmouthy Christmas is still Christmas! Glad Spike gave Buffy back enough hope to realize that! Nice happy ending there for Spike too! Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Spuffy moment. :) I simply loved the beautiful way Spike expressed himself to Buffy. Fantastic story!
I hope you have a safe and happy holiday... Merry Christmas!!! :D

Thank you for the happy ending; makes up for Chapter 1 which almost made me cry!! Loved Spike's speech about hope; that was wonderful. Great story! Merry Christmas!

What a touching a lovely story! I loved every moment of it (and how nice that Spike was already free from the FE by Christmas in this universe....much nicer than chained in that underground torture chamber!!!!!). Yes, HOPE indeed!!!! I really, really appreciated this wee giftie of hopeful Spuffy on a cold near Christmas afternoon. Thanks.

Kathleen

oh wow.  that was powerful.

well a christmas present of sorts for spike. very good read, thank you.

Very touching, no one gives him a second thought.

Poor Spike! This touches such a chord with me; being alone on Christmas, even if you're a "Big Bad", is so horrible! Lovely chapter, going to read next one now!

Buffy is in fine form. Glad Spike at least doesn't do what he's told.

I'm so happy to see you're continuing with this story. :) The Manger scene was fantastic. I loved how the dollars just fell into Spike's hand, and reading Spike's POV during the scene and afterward was also enjoyable. Good update!

Poor Spike, all alone for Christmas and he can't even pass the time with a good kill. And he keeps trying to convince himself that the chip is making him change. At least he got a present!

Poor Spike. Trapped in Xander's basement for Christmas when even Xander was happy to flee. Guess when you've tried to kill people on numerous occasions they don't really want to include you in their holidays. Interesting that Spiek thought of the money as a gift from on high for the lost sheep that he was.

well done :)

  I read the whole delio here, but this first chapter made me feel kinda sad for Vampire William.

I love this story and especially this chapter - such a great contrast between the newly turned William and his past and future.  

Poor William, he left his old life hoping for acceptance. Now his new family ignores him and he is alone. He was alone the entire time. Dru was never his and he never had anyone of his own.

poor william. shows why he became william the bloody, and why he grew to be our favorite vamp. very good read, thank you.

Poor Spike - always the outsider.

Willie the sweet vampire stealing a necklace off a dead body for his lady love. I love it.

Your story shows why William changed so much and became Spike. He craved love as William. When he realized he would always be second in Dru's life he decided to out do Angel in anyway he could. He was still a little boy inside wanting to be loved and accepted.

Oh - poor William!

That was beutifully written and sadly true!

This was such a wonderfully poignant look at Spike's personality... I loved it! Thanks for sharing. :)

Aw, that's so sad. I hope he drank the brandy by himself. :) Good job!

Poor Spike! His William side makes him so human and so vulnerable. It makes me want to give him Christmas presents myself!

Very telling story. poor Spike is going to find the holiday is not all that he expected. That had to be a hard realization that he was on the outside of their family unit. Thankfully he did have his day of wanting it more than Angel and proving he was better

Oh, poor Spike!

This is wonderful! You capture Spike's energy and enthusiasm (for both the hunt and Christmas) so well, as well as Darla and Angel's frustration with him.

That last line packs a mighty punch. Well done.

Great story. So sad. Spike is always on the oustside looking in. Unfortunately, not much changed for him throughout the years.

Yes, I can easily see this for young William newly turned! He was still so human in many ways I'd just bet he had a terrible time adjusting fully to what a vampire "wouldn't do". I like your William the Bloody, you give him the perfect mix of blood thirsty killer and tender sentimental human...just what I picture.

Really excellent even as a stand alone (although I suspect the rest will be deightful too).

Kathleen

Oh, LH, thst's so sad, so devoid of hope. Even evil he craves to love and be accepted. Instead, he is excepted; like the Little Match Girl, for all intents and purposes, left out in the cold, frozen out as if actually in the snow.
He still wears his heart on his sleeve here, not yet totally beaten and frozen out of him with blows and misuse, disappointments, and exclusions. But. oh, he's learning. A lesson sunk in this night.
Even mistreated, he wanted to give back: tho' his methods and rationale (taking a gift off a kill (or killing for the gift), seeing the parishoners as the pre-cursors to "Happy Meals with Legs", rather than walking, worshipping people who loved and/or wanted love as much as he himself did) are skewed by his newfound lack of soul and/or conscience.
Tonight our poor sad waif learned one of too many ongoing lessons of his now-unlife, and one which will only make his proverbial skin thicken until it, itself, is worn as a literal mask and armor. Yet, inside, still curls the young man craving just a kind word or a soft touch; BUT, beginning this night, he learns not to let it show.
I'd love to say I loved this. I did, as a written piece. As always, you are great as an author, your writing is technically spotless, and your gift for conveying thought, purpose and deed visually through words is incredible. But, the subject matter simply tugs at my heartstrings so much that it leaves me unrestful. And, I guess that means, as an author, you did your job! In addition, your characterizations are spot-on and as always perfection. If anything, Darla simply wasn't bitchy enough in her limited presence.
Please more of just about anything ASAP! You're just a joy to read. Any more of Agnes anytime soon?
Merry Christmas and Holiday Wishes,
~~K.~~
~~fyreburned~~
fyreburned@yahoo.com

Wow, never thought I could feel so bad for evil William. Bless him.