Just uploading this to the web now that I have come back from my birthday weekend/. Such a sweet and wonderful chapter *happy sigh*

Spell it out to her.

OOO, I love it when these two are being boneheads. And mean Tara, I like that too. Maybe she forgot the part where that knucklehead Spike insisted on going back to the Belly of the Riley Beast.

Yep, I'm crying again. What an absolutely wonderful touching chapter! I want to praise your story even more but I can't seem to find the proper adjectives... Your way with words is truely amazing! I feel for your broken Spike, and I wish for Buffy to help him heal again. This talk seems like the step in the right direction. I'm anxiously waiting for more.
~Nina

Good chapter. I am glad that Buffy realized that they need to talk and that it is not all about the sex.

This chapter was painful, and wonderful, all at the same time. I love that Buffy is learning, and starting to understand more of where Spike is coming from. I like that she managed to give back to him a little of what Riley just stole from him. Thanks for this great story.

Aww, this whole thing is just so heartbreaking. I'm glad Buffy is starting to see though.

loved the update - will put online tonight

Awww. This was a very nice and tender chapter even though it was about tending wounds. But it looks like we can have at last some comunication between Buffy and Spike, I really hope next chapter is about that. That Spike really talks to her telling her how he feels, good and bad, and viceversa.

wonderfully powerful chapter... sigh, so many misread signals and wrong conclusions

awww poor spike.. he never even said a word..

Oh man, the next chapter is going to be rough if Spike is finally going to tell Buffy about his time in the training center. Maybe it'll be healing for Spike (eventually) and open Buffy's eyes to a few more hard truths. I thinks she's really trying, though. She and Spike are having trouble understanding each other's feelings right now (or rather, are continuing to misread each other's feelings), but I love the way they continue to progress in their relationship despite the setbacks. Fantastic chapter as per usual.

That was a really good chapter! I hate that Buffy is to good of a person to kill Riley like he needs to be. ACTUALLY, I am kind of sick, and I think I would have chipped his stupid a$$ and made him serve Vamps for the rest of his life! That sounds like a great punishment to me!!

I was right...brilliant as usual...I really need to read that talk...so please update soon.

Oh yes...a smart Buffy finally! Spike need TALK and listen now more than any amout of touch. Amazing she got her mind off of herself long enough to see that. Spike needs the same care as any triggered rape victim would and then some because of the other abuses and tortures he's endured. I really really hope Buffy ©oes about this right.

Excellent update and in character as well.

Kathleen