Okay, so there's not enough stress on her already that Giles has to involve the Council? After all they've done to her?

I wonder what Buffy will do. Hopefully she won't cut her ties to Spike, but still with the knowledge that Giles gave her on the killings up until Sunnydale, how will she react. Great chapter, and thanks for the read.

very good read, thank you. giles is even more disappointing than her other friends.

oh no.

wait - didn't you say that somebody was using Spike's name and killing people?

I really love this story, but I'm almost scared of an update at this point...

Whoa!  I'm glad someone realizes just how bad Spike was pre-Sunnydale and why Buffy didn't want to be the girlfriend of Ted Bundy Jr.  Excellent conflict.

Holy cliff hanger!  What are you doing to me!!!!!!

But I love this story.  *wails*

OMG! Damn Giles. Okay, he is back to number one on my "hit" list. The jerk! ANd please don't tell me Buffy's falling for it. She has to know that her vanishing pushed Spike over the edge, and what he did to the blonde girls was done out of anger and grief because of her.
 
Noooooo! Damn, damn, damn. And what kind of job is Spike going to do? I feel that it's not of the good. God, everything they started to build is going to go downt eh flusher. *kicks at the air*

Girl, you got me hot, in the bad way rofl. Now I can't wait for more! There is going to be much badness before the good, I just know it. Looking towards your next update (but of course take your time ;))

And great update as always.

I was so excited about the Council paying Buffy, but I should have known there'd be a catch.  And of course Spike isn't going to be sane after losing the woman he loved.  I'm really hoping this doesn't cause too many obstacles, although I know some must be coming.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!  You.  Are. Killing. Me.  Thank GOD you have insomnia 'cause I don't think I could take the suspense for an extended period of time.  Well, good for the story, bad for you :-P

You know, I thought it was apropos that William should have an obsession with women who resembled his Elizabeth.  He lost her with no explanation, presumed her dead, and couldn't bare to look at any woman who reminded him of his loss.  But I don't think it fully registered with me how that would look from someone else's perspective.  To someone such as Giles, her watcher, it would make sense that Spike, Slayer of Slayers, would be drawn to Buffy, Slayer of the Vampires.  She's a slayer, and he kills them.  It's a simple slayer-vampire, vampire kills slayer situation. 

However, to see all of his kills, not just the slayers, would look less like a vampire-slayer situation and more like a...Well, a serial killer.  The watcher part of Giles would expect Buffy to be targeted by vampires, but the other part, the concerned rakish uncle part, would probably be more terrified of some whack job murderer who prays on blonde girls.  The vampires, he'd expect.  The creepily obsessed guy lurking in the bushes, he would not.  You're right, those aren't the actions of a sane person. 

With that in mind, I can't help but to wonder about all of the things he did of which the Watchers Council doesn't have pictures.  It's quite common for people, especially the media, to latch onto the morbid details of a situation and to mostly--if not completely--ignore the good.  Of course the Council has photos of a vampire's kills; it's their job.  They did not, however, keep record of William's would-be victims that he allowed to escape.  I'm sure there's no picture of William telling Matthew to run from Drusilla.  What about William trying to save his dying mother by giving her new life?  Even the coal bin girl, with her striking resemblance to his Elizabeth, was allowed to escape.  No one saw those acts of mercy, save for William himself. 

How can Buffy see the good in Spike when she has no pictures, no evidence?  This is not a Spike who allowed himself to be tortured by Glory for Buffy's sake.  This is not a Spike who risked his unlife to protect Dawn from a geriatric lizard demon.  This is not a Spike who stayed to protect Dawn, the Scoobies, and help to guard the Hellmouth while Buffy was all dead.  None of that has happened!  FtTP Spike has not had the opportunities to prove himself that canon Spike did.  What the hell is Buffy going to do?!?  Crap.  Now, I'm all depressed :-(

Oh God; I knew Giles would have something like this up his sleeve; sometimes he's a right bastard!  And I can't help but worry that this job of Spike's is going to be something that Buffy won't approve of; something that will cement Giles' opinion of him...  Oh, you evil cliff-hanging writer!!  You simply must update again soon, you're killing me here!!!

Incredible plot twist!

BASTARD!!!!!!  awwwwwwwwww man!!!!!!!!!

now I am on pins and needles again until the next update!  Great Chapter!

 Stupid Council! 

I loved your flashback at the beginning of the chapter. Hearing about it earlier in the story and actually reading it made the whole Buffy-needs-a-job situation come full circle. And the flashback makes a amazing contrast with the way the chapter ends.

Two updates in a week woot!
but GAH!....the UB angst monster strikes again. Poor Spike :( he seems to always have forces working behind his back to screw things up for him.
Great updates! I can't wait for more.

No, no, no! Please don't give up Spike you silly girl. Great update!

OH NOOOOO!!  Just when they were getting somewhere - I hope it's not back to square one!  Giles certainly knows how to play Buffy - and obviously once evil, always evil.  Except himself!  Brilliant chapter.  It was nice to know William was struck at first sight.  Great chapter al always.

Great update - please please please post a new chapter again soon -

Oh, I do hope she is able to work this out for herself.  They've just found each other again, I don't want to see them pulled apart the Council.  But then I guess we need drama for a good story... -sigh-  
Love the story.  Thanks for the update. 

Oh, I do hope she is able to work this out for herself.  They've just found each other again, I don't want to see them pulled apart the Council.  But then I guess we need drama for a good story... -sigh-  
Love the story.  Thanks for the update. 

*Wants to shake Giles and Buffy*  He couldn't have shown Buffy those pictures before because they didn't even exist until her little trip back in time.  Buffy's disappearance broke William horribly, and I suspect a part of him hated her for that--for leaving him.  Hell, for leaving the house, and not staying safe.

Oh, and a job, eh?  So, does that mean you'll spin AYW?  Huh?  Huh?

*Puts almonds back in the cupboard*  Just when I thought the story was starting to wind down, you play the next hand of the game.  I gotta say, hoping 55 appears as quickly as 54.  But then it wouldn't be much of a cliffhanger, right?  Masterful.

She HAS to know from talking to Spike that this was how William dealt with his grief after being turned and coached by Angelus. She knows more than Giles, at this point, a lot more.

Giles is plenty spiteful, informing them about her ties with Spike, then making that deal for compensation. It's a noose of control all over again. Council never changes.

Man offering Spike a job makes me very, very nervous!

Oh my, well done indeed. So surprised to see another chapter so quickly! Bow down to your muse. This one was so well written. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some chapters when read are so vivid and this is one of them. I guess it started with the surprise that you went back in time, so to speak with William. I was pleasantly surprised by this and have to say I realized how much I missed reading about that particular time. And though I really loved the "Step into my office" line right up to the last line of the chapter it was the 'flashback' scene as it were that my favorite line comes from. And its not even a line of dialog which is completely different from my norm. Rather a line of description.

*The slow creak of the carriage wheels and muted clop of the horses’ feet was lulling, and William closed his eyes.*

I don't know why but its like I could feel and see what he was feeling with every word and this one just struck me. He's longing for another life than the one he has with all its responsibilities, and he's weary and needing comfort. I felt like I was in that carriage on the leather seat hearing the clopping of those horses hooves. I know a good writer sweetie and your it. When I get drawn in like that its all because of you.  Thanks for taking me to another world with your words.

Oh honey you're killing me here LOL.  In Giles shoes I can see his point but we all ow how very wrong he is to judge Spike as just another vampire.  Nothing has yet to happen in THIS world to show the difference like his helping against Glory and being tortured or taking care of Dawn selflessly as on the show (although I doubt Giles would have been different there either).   Still the idea of emotional blackmail by the Council when all that should concern them is Buffy's welfare is disgusting.  USERS!  She should tell them to just put Faith on the  job and bugger off.

I would be sickened too to find someone I loved so well and knew so well had gone off the deep end like that too.  For her it was only a few weeks ago that he was William, a good man unable to think of such mayhem.  She hasn't  thought of the years (OR of Angel being his teacher....how I wish she'd remember THAT tidbit) that built the vampire he became.  Naturally she'd immediately think insanity.

I fear Spike is being set up (Demon eggs maybe?).  He is so desparate to help Buffy that he won't be as careful as he should be.  Oh how that is going to look bad for him just as on the show!  I wonder if this guy is from the Council or even Giles.  I wouldn't put it past them in the least (or even working for Riley).  That always did smell like a set up to me.

Spike's righteous anger is in agreement to mine as I watched the season.  Her loving friends did nothing to help her but plenty to drag her down further and they are acting that way here too.

What of her mom's gallery (on the show and in your story)?  Who sold it and where did that money go? Surely the inventory alone would have helped.  I think Buffy should sue those who acted in her name with no input from her.  Nothing suck the life from a soul like financial burdens and she is in a terrible position here.

Excellent update as ALWAYS...BRILLIANT story. Filled with heart, love and reality....so real it hurts.

Kathleen

Not one but two quandaries! Excellent.

Damn Giles, I hope Buffy won't be swayed by the photos.   I was glad to see an update so soon and hope a new one won't be long in coming. Thanks!

okay, hating giles right now, and things were getting so much better too.  i hope buffy doesn't listen to him, i can't believe they could be so stupid to have her cut ties with someone that could help her like he has been doing, the hell with them.  i really hope she does what she wants for a change, she already started to give him a chance, i don't think i can take it if she goes back on that.  i hope whatever job he gets works out and isn't illegal, then maybe she won't need anything from the council.

Yay!  Another update so soon!  And with Giles being so convincing about the evilness of Spike and the promise of money.  Loved the juxtaposition of William's desire to take care of Buffy with Spike's wanting to take care of her.  Can't wait for the next chapter.

Yes another good update!  Thanks for the new chapter.

This is a great story, and very well written.  It's a very interesting look at Spike's progression as a character and a very interesting twist on both time travel and Buffy's death/resurrection in canon.    Can't wait to read more. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I loved Spike's exchange with Willie. Giles is downright chilling. I hope Buffy can break her new habit of listlessness and find her own  core self, soon.

Gaah!   Oh no!  Giles, why did you do that?  :)     If I squealed when I saw the last update, I doubly squealed when I saw this one.  I hadn't expected one so soon for sure.  And now that Buffy is confronted with Spike's graphic past, will she turn on him again?  You leave me in suspense.  :(   Will Buffy remember William saying he should kill those men for slandering her?  Great update, and I particularly liked the flashback when he saw her in the workhouse.