Why didn't Spike tell her he was human? Geez, that's a hell of a thing for her to be hit with. This is a very intriguing story. Thanks for the read.

Oh my what a twist. I laughed my but off when I read the part about Angel being in prison for being a seriel killer - it was to funny - but to find out that he had become a human just to end his life in prison. What a great update!

Great update with a shocking cliff-hanger. I am really looking forward to the next update.

Stranger and stranger!

very good read, thanks. (even though it has nothing to do with the tale, it would be fitting if giles was angel cellmate.)

Have to say, that I really appreciate what you had Giles say. When people start talking about "darkness" (or "light" or "purity") then you know they're psychos. Good and evil then they're fanatics, right and wrong then they're moralists, but light and darkness then they're utter psychos. Thank you for that.

:o you cant leave it there!!!!!! please please please update!!!

Every page it seems more and more of the potential of this story is lost.

> Buffy shook her head. “Vampire’s don’t have consciences.”

Spike's reply to that little gem ought to have been "What do you know? You're just a serial killer."

Spike isn't doing Buffy any favours protecting her from the crisis of conscience that will inevitably assail her.

An even better reply might have been "You never had a conscience, Buffy." assuming that 'conscience' isn't synonymous with 'critical superego'. And also that it *does* have something to do with consciousness, as it should since both concepts are 'conscience' in French. Buffy simply isn't introspective enough to have ever developed a conscience.

> He looked at her. “You agree. I knew you would. Its okay, Buffy, it’s not in you to trust vampires. I know that.”

> “No. I’m just picky with the vampires I trust.”

Just like racists are picky which niggers they trust. You know, there are KKK members who have black friends. Buffy is certainly unthinking enough to maintain that level of hypocrisy.

And Spike shouldn't be encouraging Buffy in her racism when she's going to be prosecuted for a hate crime.

There's more. Like when Buffy claims that the concept of vampire rights is strange to her. Well of course it would be since she has no concept even of human rights. She's an apolitical American of the late 20th century. The concept of human rights, as opposed to civil rights, only became widespread in Europe and then only lately. Buffy wouldn't have any clue.

Spike, being European, would be much more familiar with human rights. And it's as unlikely for Spike to consider vampire rights "strange" as for him to whine about "those damned kids" playing rock music. Spike doesn't live in the past. At least he didn't used to, but hey maybe that soul fucked him over?

Well, that's a twist!!!!

Wow, even though Buffy is totally dependent on Spike and her fate is literally in his hands, Buffy is still a bossy, whacko, uber-bitch. You've certainly got her character nailed.

What bothers me is that even after 30 years' time in which to acquire some perspective and distance, Spike is still a lame, whipped, weak-minded little sub. What's his problem?

Because when Buffy interrogates Spike about his resurrection, I would have said "Back the hell off, Bitch!" SHE thinks she should determine what's important for her to know about Spike's private life? I don't think so.

And when Buffy gives that pathetic whining excuse about how she "told Dawn it wasn't his fault", the obvious reply to that little bit of self-deceit is "you obviously didn't do it convincingly".

Come on people, since when does Dawn take Xander's word for anything Spike-related. Or Buffy's for that matter. But Xander's over Buffy's? Yeah right. Buffy obviously meant for Dawn to blame him. "Read my lips; No New Taxes!"

And the thing is, Buffy's actions are spot on, because she is a self-righteous bitch in canon. And Spike's actions make sense for Spike *of 2004*. But 30 years have passed. Spike had to learn to live without Buffy or Dawn as well as raise a daughter. You'd think he would have gone through SOME amount of personal development.

Spike *could* have been giddy with relief / guilt when Buffy showed up. But it is pretty much impossible for him to still be blaming himself for Buffy's penchant for unsafe, insane, and non-consensual BDSM. Because let's face it, victims of abuse *do* eventually recognize the situation they were in once they're out of it. And Spike has had 30 years to do that.

What does it all mean? It means that this fic ignores its own premise. The premise is that 30 years have passed, but either all of the consequences haven't been worked through (or really, any consequences at all) or the premise is being ignored when the consequences become inconvenient to the story.

wow...did he get his shanshu in spite of everything? excellent update, explains a lot...wonder if she's going to get back in touch with giles and the others...fascinating! more soon please! :)

Oh yeah you paint a picture of a very screwed up Giles and Angel, but it is sooooo in character for the two of them. Both know better than anyone else and would refuse to change even if it was illegal to carry on. It's funny how you actualy give rights to the Vamps, is it just them or other demons too?? Please continue I love the way you think.

AH hah! Continue to love this story. Very intriguing chapter; looking forward to more.

Woah, that's a hell of a cliff hanger. It brings up a lot more questions. Angel is human? Yet another shock for poor Buffy. That was a great update. Really amazing story.

So Angel is locked up and he got the shanshu thing but keept on killing. I guess that makes sense since he could only judge vampires from himself and he was a cold one.