“I don’t think I have to tell you how disappointed I am in you,” Giles continued, his voice suddenly weary. “To think that you would have so little sense…even Angel was better than this! Spike is amoral, cruel…he has never done anything to help us unless it was for his own personal gain."

What!
What!
What!
Ok Giles seriously needs a Angelus education here and maybe from Spike even. Maybe there is a huge reason for the council knowing nothing on Spike "because" he wasn't anything in evil compared to Angel's lust for it. Spike's killings were more directed towards his past life then Angels killings for pleasure.





Author's Response: In Giles' mind, Angel was better because he had a soul while Buffy was involved with him (well, until he lost it that is). For her to become purposefully involved with a vampire without a soul seems, to Giles, as if she's taken leave of her senses. If he wants to maintain his relationship with Buffy, he's going to have to come to terms with the differences between Spike and Angelus. Thanks so much for the review. :-D

spent most of the night reading this and it is a intense romance and really a saga and it never gets dull or lost in its plot I highly suggest everyone to read this

Author's Response: How lovely of you to say! After 200,000+ words, I am relieved to hear that I've kept the plot interesting and never too convoluted. Thank you! :-D

Mad brilliant is what this is just mad brilliant!

Author's Response: I can't ask for a better compliment than that. Thank you! :-D

I loved the William intro it shows how he did have good intentions and he did want her even before he processed and figured out what wanting could mean. Then it moves into the current time and Spike still wanting to help and protect her at any cost and still wanting Buffy in his life.
Had a feeling Giles was up to something and would make a move but I do not think it will go in the way he planned and may actually cost himself Buffy by resorting to this kinda bullying behavior.
This should be published for it has everything going for it.

Author's Response: Both Giles and Angel accused William of being a lonely man who took Buffy in to satisfy his own desires, but the truth was that he never even considered it -- he never even wanted it. Had Buffy not gently pushed him to admit his feelings, the platonic relationship would have continued indefinitely. Whatever immediate connection he felt for her on the road that day was purely emotional. If Giles and the Scoobies would only take the time to listen -- and to *hear* -- they would realize that, and they could begin to understand all the events that followed. Thanks so much for reviewing. :-D

I smell trouble for Spike. This is very bad. I hope that Buffy gives Spike a chance first to explain. Spike could never undo what he did before no matter how he tried. Buffy should really listen to her heart once and have a little faith in Spike .

Great chapter!

Author's Response: You're certainly right about that. What's done is done, and if Buffy can't accept that and forgive him for it, then she might as well throw in the towel now. For his part, Spike needs to learn to temper his behavior to her needs. This doesn't mean catering to her every whim and becoming a doormat, of course. But he *does* need to think before he acts (or reacts) in a manner she might perceive unethical or cruel. Thanks so much for the review. :-D

Giles is playing dirty pool now will she fall for it or will she not? Buffy is not stupid she knows William becoming a vampire was not all rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens she knows he has a past but when faced with the reality of his murders how shall she deal with it is any ones guess at this point.
I was reading the beginning of this chapter and you see William being a man of wealth and then midwat through you see Spike willing to put himself out into the work force to make some money to help Buffy out with that alone shows how much he has changed I always loved the storyline of Spikes past because it is sort of a tale how the mighty has fallen and how he chooses to pick himself back up and start again over and over again. Great plot change and huge changes that will effect a lot of relationships. I love this.

Author's Response: You're completely right. Buffy knows that Spike has done evil in his past (she's borne witness to some of it), but she's been using her memories of William to try to block that out. If she truly wants to have a relationship with Spike, she's going to have to accept him for what he is and what he's done ... she's going to have to forgive him. Naturally, Giles isn't going to be much help there. Thanks so much for the review! :-D

The sweet and then the very very sour.

William helping the oppressed American girl when he was alive. Giving her work and a place within his home. Spike helping the oppressed American girl, even though he is dead and a demon. For the first time in over one hundred years, he seeks employment to give her much-needed money.

Both times, he seeks to be her saviour.

And then along comes Giles. He tentatively offers the hope of Council payment for her Slayer services. But unlike William, or Spike, there is a catch. You don't get something for nothing, my dear. Take the pretty bauble that I swing in front of your eyes....... and leave your heart behind. Council money, or Spike. And while we're at it, let's just ram that steel spike home, with a few pictures for your delectation .......

You throw all these possibilities into the air - his generous spirit in life and death, his love and protectiveness, his constancy ...... along with missiles of gore and murder and suffering and blond, blond victims ....... and how is this poor, beaten down girl going to react. What will she reach for, or discard?
That very last comment does not offer much hope for a united lovers' front.

Your parallels and comparisons throw Buffy's dilemma into sharp relief. Great chapter.


Author's Response: It's so easy to see Spike as a gallant knight when you look only at his treatment of those he loves (Anne, Dru, Buffy, Dawn), and I think that was the veil Buffy was hiding behind. She knew that he had done evil in his past, but she didn't want to *know* it (if that makes any sense at all, which it probably doesn't). Giles forces her to face his crimes and now she has to decide if she can accept them and forgive him for them. She's lived long enough in the twilight place, pretending that he's still William and willfully ignoring all the heartache he's been through and all the changes that have come over him. I'm glad you enjoyed the parallels between William and Spike. It's a pleasure to explore both past and present and all the facets of such a wonderfully complex character. Thanks for the review. :-D

Ok breath Buffy breath it's horrific but then she was not there and she does not know all the facts on just how horrible events were with his pain and living with Dru and Angelus go to the source for answers is all I can say but its a lot to wrap ones head about I feel a box of tissues coming on. I feel spoiled having 2 posts in one week but thank you!


Author's Response: Thank *you* for taking the time to read and review. I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you that; I hope the presence of a new chapter will help you to forgive me. ((hugs))

Grrr, I hope she tells Giles and the council where they can stuff their money. Nobody understands, poor Spike.

Author's Response: No one ever takes the time to understand Spike, do they? Not in canon or in fanfic. Well, we'll see ... Thanks so much for the review. :-D

plyyyyyyyyyyzzzzzzzzzz!!!..omg!! dnt say tht buffyz gona splt wiv spike!!!...

Author's Response: lol. I'm not saying *anything.* Not. One. Word. ;-) Thanks for the review!

I knew it was too good to last :(

And I'm 99% certain those are Dru's victims, not Spike's and I just hope that - going by the last phrase of the chapter - so is Buffy!

Can't this be a case where it's the two of them against the world instead of one where it's one against the other cuz the world decided to mess them up? *bats eyelashes*

Naaaah, I know it's your story and I trust you!

Another magnificent update, loved the insight to William, and will now chain-smoke till I find out what the job for Spike is (oh God, is it to take care of the demon eggs???) and what Buffy's reactions will be.

*hugs*

Author's Response: Since you've read the new chapter, I know that you're already aware that those were Spike's victims. I just wasn't sure if you remember that they were mentioned in Part II (Chapter 30). I think most people forgot, since it happened 100,000 words ago, lol. But he was a naughty boy. :P Thanks for the review! :-D

THAT FUCKING BASTARD, WHY DOES HE HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING!!! i CANT believe that he showed her those and i really hope that it doesnt change things between spike and her, though of course it will, ts buffy. i LOVE this story so much and am so happy that u updated. i think its so cute that spikes trying to get money for buffy and i hope that the job doesnt involve anything bad. also i REALLY REALLY REALLY hope that buffy doesnt turn her back on spike and that everything works out well. PLEASE update as soon as u can, im DYING, really to read wat happens next. THANX SOOO MUCH

Author's Response: Well, in Giles' defense, he thought he was doing what was best for Buffy. Since this story began before the events of "Intervention," Spike hasn't had his chance to prove himself to the Scoobies, the way he did on the show. That doesn't excuse Giles' behavior, of course. But at least he's doing the wrong thing for the right reasons ... eventually, he will just have to accept that Buffy is an adult and capable of making her own decisions. Thanks so much for the review. I'm sorry I was so late answering it! :-D