This update makes a great X-Mas present too! *hugs* and thank you!

Oh my.. bad luck for Spike. Not being able to fight back his attacker must be terrible annoying for him. Oh! And he got his duster back *gg* and is very glad about it even if he's not telling *grins* Awe - loved the interaction between Buffy and Meret - and Spike speechless *gg* And loved Buffy standing up for Meret :)

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked the chapter! It's being fun trying to keep up with all of my little threads in this web. (Where's his duster? Whoops, oh yeah... I destroyed it. Let's work on that...) Thanks for reviewing!

Terrific chapter I'm glad to see Merets' influence is rubbing off on Buffy.

Author's Response: Thanks!

The details in this story really make it come alive. Spike's agitated pursuit of violence ending with a rebar through the shoulder was a vivid image. I loved his reaction to getting the duster back, and how easily Tara is able to read through his nonchalance. Meret's impromptu gift giving and bonding with Buffy was very well realized.

Author's Response: I'm glad you're liking the little details I throw in. I worry that I'm going off into tangents too often, but as long as you guys seem to like it, I'll keep on writing them. Thanks for reviewing!

Yay for some Spuffyness! I loved how surprised was Spike at Buffy's behavior and how Meret reacted with her. It was so sweet. Wonderful chapter, beautifully written and I can't wait to read how it all is going to evolve now. :)

Author's Response: I did promise Spuffy eventually, and everyone has been so patient. Well, kind of patient. ;-) I'm glad you liked it when I finally got to it. Thanks for reviewing!

Oh yay that makes me so happy!!!!!!!

Author's Response: Hee hee. I'm glad! Thanks!

Finally got a chance to catch up with this!

Very nice update. I love Spike's methodical research; and that the scoobies are called out on their assumptions about both him and Anya.

Continue to be interested in the development of Meret and her importance to the plot. I think she's my favorite literary device ever!

Nice development of Spike and Dawn's friendship. I understand why ME let that plot tread die, but I really missed it. I do think that canon Spike could easily have abandoned his relationship with Dawn tin th flush of his destructive relationship with her sister, and the fact that Meret's presence is stopping him from that mistake is yet another reason to adore the little snake.

Author's Response: I'm glad my plan to give Spike a scaly push in the right direction is being taken so well! Thanks for reviewing!

It doesn't sound as if I'll read you before X-Mas, so I'll send you my best wishes for a happy holiday this way :)

So Giles is leaving so soon? Buffy is not pleased and so are the others. Mmmm - research party. Spike did indeed fit very well. And this is right - nobody asked Spike ever what languages he speaks. Or Anya for her knowledge. At last mostly. Oh they are thinking of killing Meret? Like before of killing Dawn? At last Dawn knows that Buffy wanted her protected. And it's good to know Buffy liked what Spike did - trying to help with Dawn when she ran away. Looking forward to the next part when you have time again.

Author's Response: Well, maybe a little before Christmas. ;-) Thanks for reviewing!

“I thought we were here to research Spike’s snake-thing,” she said coldly. Innuendoes streamed through Spike’s mind at that statement, but he wisely held his tongue.

Why, oh why, oh why did he choose that moment to go all wise and tongue holding?! I'd have loved a bit of Spike innuendo right then. *grins*

What an interesting chapter. Interesting that there was so little disapproval when Spike actually sat down and joined in the research. Xander's little dig at Spike reading Greek was pretty tame, no 'evil undead' stuff. It tickled me that Spike ordered his note pages methodically... and when Buffy just stared incredulously at him he didn't fold and allow the brassy BB to take over, he retained his composure and got down to business.

Willow's silence in this chapter was a little frustrating because I so wanted to know what's going on in her mind. She's a wild card. I was also missing Tara.

This is quite a complex chapter to write because you have a whole ensemble to incorporate and it must be pretty intense trying to get enough of each of their thoughts, actions and narrative into the mix without losing sight of where you want to end up and how long you take to achieve that. I thought that Spike, Meret, Dawn, Anya and Xander came across great. Giles, like on the show, remained stoic in his intent - by which, I mean, he doesn't offer any reasonably acceptable (to the Scoobies) explaination for his return to the UK and focusses on the problem at hand. Willow and Buffy... I sort of felt there was something missing. Maybe I'd have liked more of an impression of their mood/feelings when they were all around the research table, especially Buffy. Willow went a little grey around the gills at the mention of the impact a spell gone awry involving a coatl could have, but I was left wanting to know if she was curious about how she could incorporate Meret into her magical experimentations and just what she really did feel about Spike and Meret. I was surprised at Buffy's silence when Dawn discovered that the gang had actually considered her death as a solution to the Glory problem. I'd have expected Buffy to jump in, mouth blazing, even though she was in shock at Giles announcement. She was just too disassociated for me... but maybe that's because she's only just now being incorporated into the whole thing from a Spike perspective?

As you can see, this chapter gave me lots of food for thought. A great start to my weekend. Thanks, pet. Hope you enjoy your Christmas vacation.

Author's Response: Ack! Juggling that many characters made my head spin! Is this one of those things that gets easier with experience? :-D I'll be getting to more Willow and Buffy in the next few chapters. Thanks for the review and the Christmas well-wishing! Happy holidays!

You so totally made my night by updating! I get so excited when I see this up on the Recently Added page I quadrupal click.

Awwww, Spike and Dawn bonding. I'm such a sucker for that stuff.

Author's Response: Hee hee! Don't break your mouse! Ahem... sorry. ;-) Thanks for reviewing!

Uh-oh! Spells that use both the coatl AND its bondmate? That doesn't bode well. And great solution Scoobies - let's kill the innocents we're supposed to be protecting to stop them from falling into the hands of evil...and how do we distinguish evil? Oh that's right - they're the ones who want to KILL the innocents. ~Eyebrow raised in sardonic fashion much reminiscent of Spike~
Okay Buffy, it's time to get into mama-bear mode and go all 'fangy and grrrr" (just like Dawnie did) if anyone looks like they're gonna threaten your 'family'. You did it in The Gift and I know you can do it here...it certainly looks like she might be realising she has reason to include Spike in that unit if the little moment that passed between them is anything to go by. And oh it was sooo nice to see Buffy head-on here instead of in reflection through the perspectives of others - though that 'negative space' thing you had going was very well done. More soon please! 8-)

Author's Response: I'll be working more on filling in that negative space in the next few chapters! Thanks for reviewing!

Yeah, I hate the scoobies too.... bloody malakases... lol

Author's Response: Note to self: researching insults in other languages is great for hours of laughter. Thanks for reviewing!

Poor Dawn. Please let Buffy tell the Scoobies off for a change.

Author's Response: I'll try not to disappoint. ;-) Thanks for reviewing!

Great imagery with the scars story.

Love the picnic, too. So cute.

Author's Response: Thank you!