"In killing Xin Rong, he lost something…something that had always made him special, something separate from his life as a vampire. The soft spot in his heart—kept deeply and carefully preserved for so long—became as hard and brittle as the rest of him. The slayer killer."

I love this section -

You have quite a knack for turning a phrase: "enormous steel lion;" "sharp-toothed little Messiah." I'm putting those two in my mental list right below "stupid with fear" from the coal bin chapter :-)

"...so imbedded in its protective callous that even he ceased to find it."

I am reminded of the Grinch with his heart two sizes too small. Spike killed the Chinese slayer and killed the tender part of his heart. Seeing his Elizabeth's face again has made him remember that it's still lying there all dried up and pruney. And now he wants to kill another slayer to quell those feelings once again. A century has has dried up our poor boy's heart. Well, Buffy's just gonna have to dig it out and make it moist again...Okay, that was just icky :-P

"Yet in not one of those hundreds of single-spaced, neatly typed pages was there an accurate summary of his human life, or of the journey that had taken him from there to here."

Except for FtTP, that is ;-) And that's what you've done: given us a glimpse into the life and times of William the bloody poet and Spike the bloody slayer of slayers. Aside from all of the many other things that I love about this story, I have to say that fact is one the best things about this story--it's originality. We got to peek in on our boy in bits and pieces on the show, a rejection here, a mother trying to hump her son there, offing a slayer over there. And those glimpses seemed adequate until you started filling in the blanks. I don't know what plot bunny :plotbunny: hopped through your head and said, "Wouldn't it be great if there was a story that filled in Willy's blanks and then made the story even better?" But I'm sure glad for that hoppity little bugger :-D

I am so excited!! can't wait for the first confrontation!

You are supremely evil to let it end like that! But I love you for it! Another new update and what a surprise, but I'm so delighted that you took us into the 'almost' present time. Perfect the way you had him justify why she looks like his lost love. Not that it will stop him from trying to kill her.

Now I look forward to Book III. Every chapter is so very much worth the wait. I'm secretly hoping that you will throw all of your devoted readers for a loop, you keep surprising us and adding all these lovely twists, that I can't help but want to be shocked. This line didn't help matters..

* If she had turned at just that moment, and noticed him standing there, then it was possible that the pattern of the next three years would have been irrevocably altered.*

And my favorite part of the story was the last line...

*Then, his eyes narrowed with the sudden realization of what he was doing, and he steeled himself for the confrontation. Because, clearly, the bitch had to die.*

*insert big cheesy grin* You couldn't have ended that any better.

Heh, I think I know why all the SR people went crazy now...

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to do a little victory dance because I so called Spike's reaction, way back when. :) Spike assuming she's one of Elizabeth's descendants was clever, though - he'd have to rationalize it somehow.

I like how you've managed to show us a very different Spike, but bring him back to the point where, feasibly, nothing in canon would change until season 5. And yet, now there's a whole new layer to Buffy and Spike's relationship - why he's so determined to kill her, yet so ineffectual at it, and why he eventually falls in love with her. (It kind of makes me want to watch the show over again, with your story in mind as Spike's background.) Great way to conclude part II!

oooh WOW.. im so amazed and happy and extatic about the way youve handled this fic!!! its smooth effortless and beautiful without being even one bit "been done before" or "old".

Therse very few authors that pull this off and you are definatly one of them. In fact you one of but a handful. You are one of the few "greats" that are still into Spuffy.

Love Jo.

He's finally here in SunnyD but another three and a half years before Buffy disappears. Wonder at what point he realises she's not a descendent, but the real thing? When she goes missing? We know he's always had a fascination for her and not because she's the slayer. It's a perfect blending of AU and canon. You know, you'd shown with perfect clarity, the moment he changed for William to Spike. Now to witness his metemorphose once again, from Spike, back to being more William-like. Wonderfully done, thanks UB, so excited about this, can't wait for more!

very good ending to part II.

Puts a whole new spin on "Love at first sight" doesn't it? Yay! :D

The writing in this chapter is just simply superb. Looking forward to the next chapter.

I've been dying for the moment he saw Buffy again and you didn't disappoint. So much has happened to him, it says a lot about his feelings for Elizabeth that he even remembers. Can't wait for more.

Yay!! After reading this excellent chapter, I can't wait for PartIII. Awesome description. It's also great how we see Spike's thoughts. I know he thinks he's all Big Bad now, but I'm still feeling the William. I am just wondering how long it will take, being around Buffy, for him to realize just how not dead both William and Buffy are. Oh, and I gotta tell you, I saw the Report yesterday, and I must offer my condolences on Stephen's injured wrist, that and the fact that Katie Couric made him cry because she didn't wear the wriststrong bracelet. Well, gotta go, so happy you updated! Good luck with III!

I really love this story,but god,what a cliffhanger.please please please update a.s.a.p

I can understand the rage. The "why is my beloved in the ground, and *you're* here?". I can also understand not recognizing her, because after 100 plus years, she probably became idealized and she was obviously younger than he remembered. I'm waiting to see what happens and when or even if he finally recognizes her.

You are evil! He finally gets too see her, and you end it. I love how he rationalizes why Buffy looks like Elisabeth. He had no idea she was from the future, so he would think she was a distant relative. Now he hates her because her "relatives" survived and Elisabeth didn't. It gives their fights a completely new dimension. I love it, and I can't wait for more. :)

OMG! Ok, girly scream out of the way. ok, so this is Buffy from 97, not Buffy from 01, man what's going to happen. And you said the next three years. You're taking us on a wild ride girl, and I'm with you all the way. i can not, can not, wait to see what happenes next. And gussing since this is younger Buffy she won't know it's him. Really can't wait.

Amazing! A real treat to read. I can't wait for part III.

Holy Crappity Crap!
This took me completely by surprise. I'm so glad that Spike's finally made it to Sunnydale. I can't wait to see what other things will happen......I do have one mnor issue with this chapter though (And you know I'm not one to complain) but wouldn't he have noted the last name "Summers" as being the same as Elizabeth's? I would seem to me that THAT would have caught his immidiate attention, even if he were to just shrug it off citing coincidence, before actually seeing her face. Anyway. Great chapter. I can't wait for more!

Okay, now for actual words - Ah, the wonderful thing about time travel. His Buffy and this Buffy won't intersect until Season 5, when she's called back, so they're going to go pretty much exactly how we've known it........probably, until suddenly, a Buffy that's loved William comes back to a Spike that loves buffy. And she can no longer look on the vampire the same way. But until then...oh, until then, Spike is going to be Spike. :D

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! (claps hands in delight)

Boy this chapter had me absolutely bouncing in my seat. That, and I just got the movie "Chance" downloaded, so double goodness!

Okay, I simply cannot wait for three, and when Spike finally realizes that yes, that is his (I refuse to wholly separate Spike from William) Elizabeth, and how they both will react to each other. Though knowing Buffy, probably a reunion that's not of the good...

Excellent and high five!

I know I've been horrible about reviewing, but I did want you to know that I've been following every chapter, and this is just so. damn. good. I just love this, every single moment. There has never been a re-write of history so real and convincing, of this I'm sure. I cannot wait for Part III. Bravo, sweetie!

I don't think that there's a superlative that can do this fic justice. Awesome doesn't even come close. I've been wondering how you were gonna pull off that first meeting in Sunnydale, and you surpassed all my expectations. The fact that Spike only sees a slight resemblance to his Elizabeth and reacts badly (hates her with a passion) and that Buffy, of course, doesn't know him at all has got to be the perfect way to begin their relationship in the present. The evil cliffie may have me chewing my fingernails down to the bone, but I love it. Your next update will have me doing a happy dance for sure. :)

GAH! ::strangling noises:: There will be a Part III? Mew? Please please? That's one heck of a cliffhanger, dearie!

fabulous update...I'll be waiting for more soon!

What do you mean - End of Part II ?!?! Oh my, what a cliffhanger!! Great story and I continue to love the way you develop Spike's changes in character over time. I'm really glad he felt a pang of recognition. Great chapter - thanks!

sweet. I want to see where you take it from here.

Oh My gosh! What are you going to do??? OK, I've been loving this story since ...well, you started it. It's so beautifully written and you've done the characters so well.
I wait for updates and click happily when they appear. But this?! This is just evil. are you taking lessons from one of the other cliffhanger-loving writers on here! agh! I may die of sheer anticipation and curiosity!

holy shit holy shit holy shit. God that was awesome please don't stop your writing
Thanx

NICE...Oh I am REALLY looking forward to part III. This keeps getting better and better. It may actually be my favorite spuffy story ever written...including the show itself...lol...

Great chapter - loved Spike's reaction to seeing Buffy again and very believable explanation on how neither one recognizes the other. How much time has passed for Buffy?

You've written this chapter so much better than I thought could be done. It's so satisfying and a great tease at the same time. Great! I continue to be hooked.

Holy cats what a great segue! PERFECT. Naturally he wouldn't realize it IS Elizabeth and she wouldn't know him from Adam until S5....Such a good reason why he just couldn't get the job done to kill her!

PERFECT, just perfect, like everything else in this story.

Kathleen