Forward to Time Past by Unbridled_Brunette
Chapter: Chapter Thirty-Five

Mesh
11/13/2009 03:59 pm
I'd like to understand your view on Spike's subconscious/psychological association between slayers and Elizabeth . If there is one. What brought on his fixation? Was it Buffy who caused it? Or is it just his desire for fame and nothing more?
There was no connection between Elizabeth and Spike's fixation with slayers. He was fascinated with them not only because they represented potential fame, but also because they were the ultimate challenge. This was presented in the canon of the series and I didn't deviate from it in the story. Thanks for the review.

LindsayH
06/08/2007 09:25 pm
Ok, this chapter was just pure fun, a little vacation to the Eternal City! I loved the banter between the Slayer and Spike!

Deb
06/04/2007 08:23 pm
Another fabulous chapter that you've given to us. Am enthralled by the detail of your vision for Spike. His sparring with the Slayer, his melancholy and grief he continues to weave into his existance as a vampire. Loved the playing of the piano. All lush detail and so heartfelt. Love Dru's vision of Miss Edith with her eyes covered. Fantastic wordsmithing!
What a nice thing for you to say, Deb. Thank you! :)

06/03/2007 05:15 am
He honed his skills with this Slayer. It's too bad he didn't find the demon who killed her. Wonder what Angelus wants? We know he's pissed about them leaving but still wondering what's to happen with his return. I loved the dream William had about he and Buffy getting married in Italy. It was very romantic. Can't wait for them to meet in the future. She knows he's coming but he doesn't have a clue. Still wondering if Buffy went home to her own time or will time be slow for her as well. She's having to wait for over a hunderd years to go by. Great chapter, Cam. Thanks.
Thank you for the review. I'm glad to hear you're still enjoying it. :)

bunnyluv_pet
06/01/2007 09:14 pm
Really have been enjoying this story very much. Its the first fic i've read in quite some time.

can't wait for the next chapter.
How flattering to know that you chose my fic when returning to the fandom. Thank you. :)

05/27/2007 03:19 am
Need I shower you with praise? Um, yeah, lol. When you described dhis dream of taking Buffy and his mom to Italy I could picture it. It almost brought tears to my eyes for the dream that he could never have.

His first meeting with the slayer, priceless. I loved it, and the banter, yay. So this again gives insight as to why he was so taken with Buffy as a warrior. I'm loving this trip, but I also can't wait until the meet once again. A thought just came to me. Has Buffy landed dback in her time or is she back in the past? I mean, will she know who he is when they meet at the Bronze? I can't wait to find out. And I think Miss Edith has already told Dru the future but she dosen't want to let Spike know.
Hey, you don't *need* to shower me with praise, but I'm certainly not going to complain if you do. lol. Thanks for the review. :)

05/22/2007 06:09 am
love spike's encounters with his first slayer. it shows who he is. enjoy how you capture dru, so sad, so needy. thank you for a excellent read.
Thank you. I'm glad you like the characterizations. :)

05/22/2007 12:55 am
“Who papered their walls in white-dotted lilac anyway?” I can totally see Spike killing someone because they were tacky :-P

“Ciao, bellezza.”

Hello, cutie! Nice touch :-) And so our fair William encounters his first slayer. Your telling of it echoes his first few fights with Buffy in the canon: Spike seeks her out, watches her, studies her, and then goes in for the fight. When she overcomes him, he backs off, not running away, but coming back for more. Spike sees his worthy opponents (i.e., slayers) as equals. He doesn’t know that he will win, but that seems to be the attraction for him. Spike is the ultimate anti-hero, and I think that that’s part of why we love him. He fights with a sense of honor and respect—even when he’s trying to kill you :)

“Be sweet to me, pet. Love me a little while.”

Are you TRYING to kill me? Poor Spike seeking comfort à la Season Sex Buffy, trying to capture a false sense of love. Why does he always have to draw the short straw? Why? :( To paraphrase the Everly Brothers, when will our boy be loved????
What can I say, I just have to write angst. ;)

05/21/2007 10:49 pm
I can't wait to see how you handle Angelus getting his soul...if that happens in your story...
Beautifully written, as always! :)
Thank you, BT. I'm glad you're still enjoying it. :)

Lea
05/21/2007 08:44 pm
Lov-ing, this! Absolutely gorgeous and heart-wrenching. Looking forward to more!
Thank you so much! :)

05/21/2007 06:40 pm
Awesome chapter. I am glad that in some aspects Spike and the slayer in Italy had an odd relationship. It was all about honor with both of them. And for some reason I even think that Dru is good for him. I don't know if he would be watching his own back if he didn't have someone. But Angelus would have to show up....
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks so much for taking the time to review. :)

05/21/2007 04:59 am
I love how this fic is turning out so far. I haven't seen to many PreBuffy Spike fics that were really good but you capture Spike in a light that shows him as the badass Slayer of Slayers, yet still William in a sense. Great read so thanks.
Thanks so much. I'm glad you like it. :)

I always saw a lot of William in Spike (even before we were actually introduced to William on the series.) Spike always seemed oddly loyal as a vampire, and very much a nurturer when it came to Dru and, later, Buffy and Dawn. I wanted to maintain that wonderful balance in my version of him. I'm glad to hear that I'm succeeding so far.

05/21/2007 04:46 am
Oh, UB, how I love this story! I'm going to wait until tomorrow to leave the review that this chapter deserves, but I just wanted to let you know that me likey :)
Thank you so much, IB. I always look forward to your reviews, so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for it. :)

05/21/2007 04:43 am
Awesome chapter, UB! I love the relationship between Spike and the Italian Slayer - you really do a great job of showing the beginnings of Spike's attitude toward Slayers. And I agree with the review how sad it is that Spike thinks Elizabeth wouldn't love him for what he'd become, when Buffy knew exactly what he would become. Angelus showing up can't be of the good, but I think Spike is more prepared now that he's fought the Slayer.
You're right about that. Spike has sharpened his teeth on the master; he won't be the easy target for Angelus that he once was.

I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for reviewing. :)

Carole
05/21/2007 03:48 am
You're doing such a wonderful job of writing this Spike. His memories and reasoning are different from canon but the coloring in of his history is so believable. Which makes his thoughts of Elizabeth, his certainty that she would no longer love him, all the more heartbreaking. Because she knew it all. The fight scene was wonderful. I love the phrase "he stood on the stone shoulders of a god." What great imagery. Hope you're feeling better and off to read the translations.
I'm feeling much better, thank you. And thank you, as well, for the kind review. :)

05/21/2007 02:12 am
Excellent Drusilla, loved your Italian Slayer, and the action scenes were great.
Thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

05/20/2007 11:16 pm
Another brilliant chapter! I am loving this construction of Spike. He will never totally forsake his memories of what was and what he had desired but he is forging a different future with each choice. You really have captured him beautifully.

Your Dru is dead on as well.

Looking forward to the next chapter and finding out what Angelus has up his sleeve.

Kathleen
I'm so glad to hear my Spike continues to ring true. Dru, as well. Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me so. :)

05/20/2007 10:31 pm
Another engrossing instalment of Spike's history. This is exceptional writing.
Thanks so much, Lou. I'm glad you like it. :)

05/20/2007 06:14 pm
Eeeep! Shit!

Hoo, boy. Next chapter should be veeerrrry interesting. Can't wait to see how Angelus feels about a young upstart taking one of his women and leaving the country, and to fight a Slayer, no less!

I've always loved the idea that Spike had met and fought several Slayers, and bested two. I'm really enjoying your take on his history. I could read it forever and never get bored! Can't wait for more!
What a great compliment, Coquine, thank you!

In regards to the other Slayers, I agree with you. I couldn't imagine he only met two in his lifetime. He must have honed his skills before he was able to beat the Chinese Slayer, and I always thought the best way he could do this was by fighting other Slayers over the years.

Onyx
05/20/2007 06:14 pm
.......Niiiiiiceee.
I Loved Spike's pov of the Slayer, and all his reactions to her. I was wondering what was going to happen with her since, his first Slayer kill was obviously not in Italy. And now Daddy's home....I'm sure THAT will go SWIMMINGLY.
Oh, yes. I'm sure there will be many familial revelries now that "Daddy" is home. That or utter chaos and destruction. ;)

Thanks for the review!

05/20/2007 04:13 pm
Goes a long way in explaining the Slayer obsession. And his insistence on a fair fight when he views the opponent as worthy.
That's exactly what I was hoping to convey. Thanks so much for the review, nightshift. :)

LadyYashka
05/20/2007 01:07 pm
Oh I loved this chapter. Poor Spike, still dreaming of and grieving Elizabeth. I loved the parts with the Slayer. You did a wonderful job describing their dance. I liked Spike's reaction to her death as well. It was very much Spike.

And now Angelus is back. I can't wait to see what happens next! :D

By the way-I tried doing this earlier, but my connection was screwing around with me. Better late than never. :)

Yep, I definitely appreciate your reviews, Lady, regardless of when they arrive. Thanks! :)

05/20/2007 09:03 am
I almost thought that the weekend would go by w/o an update from you! Lucky me. I'm out of words, as if I haven't praised this story enough. Another brilliant chapter hun. You made me miss Europe in this one.

*He would live with her in a rented villa with stone floors and enormous windows that looked out onto a bed of roses. In the evening, they would sit on the balcony, dine on spicy chorizo sausage and drink sangiovese wine. At night, he would make love to her on linen sheets.* Though the Chorizo in Spain is not spicy, it is oh so good. And I look forward to enjoying that in a month when I go.

Nostalgia, humor, sadness, action this chapter had everthing but the romance, but that will come with Book III. This line gave me a chuckle...* She was cruel to them, but Spike considered they deserved it. Who papered their walls in white-dotted lilac anyway?* I completely agree with him.

Plus you are always making my heart bleed for William...* “Be sweet to me, pet. Love me a little while.”

And Drusilla did. But afterward, when sleep finally came, he dreamed of her, and when he woke up, his cheeks were stiff with dried tears.* It doesn't get more angsty than that.

I always enjoy how you take the time to add details that enrich your story, such as the different languages (along with translations thank you so much for that) and your vivid descriptions of the characters surroundings. I look forward to the next chapter to see what havoc Angelus will pour out on Spike and Dru.
lol. Now I'm jealous, AC. I've never had the pleasure of visiting Europe. :P

I had a few unhappy reviewers in regards to the Spike/Dru interaction, although this was mostly on ff.net. I'm really not seeing the issue some people have with it, since I think I've made it clear that his affections for her are not romantic. It's gratifying to know that my BSV readers understand the relationship between them and don't find it offensive. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful, detailed review. :)

05/20/2007 07:23 am
I loved the fight scene! And Rome through Spike's eyes, both the predator and the man. It was only a matter of time before Angelus caught up with them, wasn't it? This should be very interesting... I don't imagine Angelus will find Spike quite such an easy target after all his training with the slayer.

Fabulous chapter, my dear!
Thank you, Always. You know your opinion means a lot to me, so I'm glad you liked it. :)

You're right when you say Angelus won't find Spike an easy target. He's fought a Slayer and survived, if not won, the battles. That goes a long way in sharpening his skills.

Esther
05/20/2007 07:22 am
Loved it!! Splendid way of showing how Spike gained a respect for fighting Slayers and how he became a great fighter. Ooh, and now the cliffy...I knew Angelus wouldn't leave them for long. Can't wait for more!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to review!

05/20/2007 04:25 am
Wonderful chapter, UB. Nice ending, too. Can't wait to see what Angelus might try to pull.
Poor Dru, she's miserable. Very nice interraction between Spike and the Slayer of that time. Can't wait to see more. ;)
I'm glad you're still enjoying it. Thank you. :)

fanxstitch
05/20/2007 04:16 am
Really enjoying your story. You're doing a wonderful job of creating a believeable background for Spike/William. I look forward to the next chapters.
Thank you, fanxstitch. I'm glad you liked it. :)

gdo
05/20/2007 03:37 am
Um, translations please? Besides that, I like Spike thinking about "what ifs", of Elizabeth in Italy. I like him fighting Emiliana, though I don't know what to feel that he would fight with honor...that he wouldn't stab her in the back. Hope he gets over that, but anyway, it's your story and it's brilliant.
I added a translation link at the beginning of the chapter; I hope you found it and it helped you better understand the dialogue.

I have to disagree with you when you say Spike wouldn't fight with honor. Granted, there was often little honor in his skirmishes with his "Happy Meals on Legs" but when it came to Slayers, he didn't seemed to fight in anything but the most aboveboard manner. He even dropped his weapon when Buffy told him to in "School Hard" because he knew it gave him an unfair advantage and he wanted to prove to her his worth by defeating her unarmed.

It wasn't until he hired the hitman for Buffy (What's My Line) that I felt he was being underhanded or dishonorable. Also, keep in mind that in this chapter Spike is still very young, and that Emiliana is the first Slayer he comes into contact with. I think this makes a huge difference in how he interacts with her.

Thanks so much for the review. I appreciate hearing your opinions, even when I don't agree with them. :)

Cas
05/20/2007 03:34 am
So, we see the beginnings of the characters we know. Can't think Angelus's return will be to their benefit.
Well, I'm sure Angelus isn't altogether pleased with Spike. We'll just have to wait and see how it pans out. Thanks so much for the review!

05/20/2007 03:34 am
Ah, yes....Angelus wouldn't let them stay away for long.

Excellent description of Spike's first Slayer adventure.
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. :)