it takes two to tango, the blame can't all be put on her, i agree with a few of the other reviewers about that.

Author's Response: True.....but you have to remember when people are hurt it takes them a lot to admit their own mistakes in an argument/discussions

Looks like both Spike and Buffy had traumatic backgrounds. Great chapter!

Author's Response: I'm glad that you enjoyed my chapter. And thank you for all your reviews!

I love that Spike has his stuff together and now Buffy has to do the same. Great Fic.

Author's Response: thank you. I agree Spike is trying to tell her that it's ok to trust and in that you will find ultimate love

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good Buffy bash at times as much as the next person but Spike is being very condescending towards her.
Yes, she has made some big mistakes but no problem is as one sided as Spike is suggesting. I think that he is being a bit manipulative really.
She is a somewhat damaged person and I think he could show her a little compassion rather than the door.
I don't like the fact that her friends are colluding with him to "teach her a lesson" - I think she has learnt her lesson and doesn't need to be bashed over the head with it.
Apart from this I am enjoying your story.

Author's Response: This wasn't about a Buffy bash and Spike wasn't being condescending, he just was trying to show her that despite having a sorid past, one can work through it and live a life with trust and love. True she is damaged, but so is he. Who better to show her. My intensions were not to bash her, it was to give it to her straight. Since she is a strong willed person, she needs it to be put to her in that manner. Giving it to her softly would not work with a person such as she. This chapter was to show that even those that have been hurt in the past can rise above it and give themselves fully to others. I'm glad that your enjoying my story and thank you so much for your review

I'm not sure how i feel about this chapter. All this secrecy is not good for friendships or relationships. It can cause feelings of betrayal and untrust. I know Willow is concerned about Buffy but i'm not sure i agree how she is going about it. it's like they all have this big plot going on to make Buffy realize something. I think she has to come to these truths on her on not from others telling her what's wrong with her. I know what i'm about to say alot of you will not agree with but when they first got together Spike was not innocent. I think there relationship developed to fast they didn't take the time to get to know eachother . I love your story don't get me wrong but i just don't feel as if the whole dooming of their relationship was all Buffy's fault. Spike is an intelligent man and if he was not in agreement with the way things where moving he should have said something. Please lets not make this a bash on Buffy. I'm glad he went and worked on himself but lets be honest he wanted Buffy just as much as she wanted him and did whatever he had to get her. No relationship will make it or recover if one person is made to feel as if they are totally the blame for them falling apart. Now i think Buffy need's to leave for awhile to get away form all her "concerned" friends and Spike. Forget his number for now,let her be gone for 2 months and let Spike sweat it out. All we saw was Buffy slowly heading toward a emotional breakdown we never really heard anything about Spike and what he was doing. I think she needs to go back to California and make her peace with her past,including her father.I guess i was finally saying something because everyone comes down on Buffy so hard and yes i know she messed up by letting her fears get the best of her. Spike seems to want this perfect love and love is not like that it's "ugly and messy":-). Buffy will always have her flaws and faults even if she make peace with her demons and Spike's going to have to decide if he wants the women who emerges of a perfect little barbie.Please don't take offense to anything i have said for that is not my intention. I'm just ranting my frustrations. You know you are a good writer when you make me want to grab your characters B***h slap them. till later....N

Author's Response: Hey N, first let me thank you for saying that I'm a good writer, blush! There was no secrecy, Spike told her outright how he found out about Anya's wedding. There's no plot, its people that love her that wants whats best. If you remember, many many chapters ago they were together over a month before they had sex. In relationships now a days that's light years. Spike doesn't want her perfect, he just wants her to trust. Trust herself first and foremost and trust others in her life. Spike only blames her since she didn't give herself truly to him in their relationship. Because of her past she needed control and ultimate control is not a relationship. Spike and her friends love her, they just want her to trust them, so she can completely love them back.

So glad he came back. A bit sad he walked away again. Real life takes time. Indeed. Looking forward to their talk. Thanks for the update, ready for more!

Author's Response: I couldn't keep his away for long, well in our world. For them it was over two long months for her. More will be coming soon

Ahh, yay angst with hope of fluff.

Author's Response: Keep reading! thanks for your review

i liked the reunion. It was approriate on Spike's side because Buffy is someone he can't quite resist but does not trust. It was the same for Buffy, she wants him but is not sure of his wants. Cool beans.

Waiting for more.

Author's Response: thank you. Like I said in the story you can't have any relationship without trust. Trust in the other person, but more importantly trust in yourself

So glad she was able to bring Darla down a bit. And though Spike may be harsh, she's only getting what she asked for. Still awaiting a verdict.

Author's Response: read on it's there!

yeah they both need a cooling off period. Like Clem's take on it all. Great Chapter

Author's Response: Thanks D! I really love Clem in this story. Not enough stories have him! I always loved his character!

If it comes back to you, it was meant to be. That's right. But it doesn't help if one doesn't know to where to go back to. Spike didn't want Clem to tell Buffy so she couldn't do that, coming back.

I wondered how it would end, this trial. Darla got away easily. She was lucky.

Author's Response: Actually Darla didn't. If the prosecutor decides to retry her, she has to go through this all over again. If they don't, then yeah she did get away easily. Spike knew they needed time. He also knew that if he gave into her or himself that they wouldn't be able to heal and work on themselves

With Buffy's timing (animosity to lawyer Eros and his firm) it makes it seems as if the whole relationship was a lawyer ploy to throw him off his game. Specially when you add surprise witness into the mix. Her Halo seems more then a bit tarnished.

Author's Response: It may appear that way, but no. She wasn't out to throw him off his game. This is typical Buffy letting her unsupported and sometimes ridulous beliefs getting the best of her. Yeah her halo has always been tarnished and a little crooked!