Nice writing. I found the Firoud thing funny, but I'm not really sure Xan deserves the abuse. It's not like throwing a can of soda at Spike's head was really going to do much damage. And, at least in this story, he came across Buffy trying to push Spike away before he started making insults.

Interesting, too that Spike's so concerned with convincing Buffy of his ability to love, even when he's insistent that he no longer wants her for anything other than a good time.

Author's Response: It's not for the can of soda. Spike had already set things up with the Firoud. It's payback for all the other times when S6 Spike never retaliated. And, yeah, Spike's conflicted as well. :D I'm glad you're liking it! Thank you!

LOL I loved Spike sendind the Firoud after Xander. He totally deserves it. He's a big coward the way he treats chipped Spike. I'm so glad Spike isn't taking any more crap from him. I don't know why they all thought Spike was so defanged when he could have sent demons after them anytime. And he didn't ,cause he was changing. But they never saw that.They were all blind and prejudiced IMO.
And now Buffy is off to save Xander, it's like Spike said he's a big pussy. *smirk*
Oh Spike's last line was harsh! Yeah I think she's missing her little lap dog. lol

Evil cliffie! Can't wait to see what happens next. LOVED IT!

PS : Don't let some of the reviews get you down..you did warn people it would be a little un PC and this is S3 Spike so it's not puppies and lollipops. Tell your story the way you like, cause it's GREAT! And really Spike could be a lot worse. :)

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it! I'm so glad I put up that warning, because of the problems some people are having. But if you think about it, canon S6 was a lot worse with how abusive Buffy was. Spike's nowhere near that here.

I like watching Spike stand up for himself, but I miss the romantic lovelorn Spike too. I'm interested in seeing where your story goes. :) Keep going please.

Author's Response: This is Season 3 Spike and he doesn't know what he feels for Buffy. Romantic Spike will have a look in. :D I'm so glad you're liking it! Thank you!

Now Buffy is missing her 'old' Spike. Nor sure how it will work with the 'new'/'younger' one but Buffy will appreciate having the more friendly Spike back.
And Xander is there to learn a lesson. But he isn't at the moment. That was a clever way of getting back to Xander.
But now Buffy is after Spike; not so good. I wonder how this will turn out.

Author's Response: She'll really appreciate S6 Spike now. :D I'm glad you're enjoying it!

I can see where some people may have a problem with this Spike. I guess some people like the Spike who would do anything for Buffy no matter how bad she treats him. I guess some want him to be her good faithful dog no matter if she treats him like dirt. While I do love that Spike is the type of man who does whatever he can for his lady love. That is one of my favorite things about Spike. That he is faithful to his women. I don't like seeing Spike taking crap from Buffy or Dru just because he loves them. I hate it when I see that happen in real life. Someone using another person because they know the other person will let them walk all over their feelings. It makes me sad for that person who is just being used and angry at the person who is using them. I love it when Spike stands up for himself and when writers have him stand up for himself during season 6. I also think some people have to understand that this is season 3 Spike. The Spike that hasn't really realize the type of feelings he has for Buffy. He has the memories of the feelings but he hasn't realized it yet himself. But I always thought Spike felt something for Buffy since the beginning. He just didn't realize it or didn't want to admit it. Like Dru told him that she is always there around him. That he is always thinking about her. Another good thing you did is that he was a little soft for Dawn and even Willow in this chapter when he hinted at Buffy that she should talk to Willow . That Spike always had feelings and can feel for people even when he was the 'Big Bad' I think that is why many people fell in love with the character of Spike. He may have been evil at first but he still had feelings and emotions. He still had this human side to him. He still had soft spots to him. That he was always different from other vampires. From his vampire Angelus, Dru, Darla, The Master. They were just all pure evil. I think Dru might have a soft spot to her as well. Maybe. Anyways, I do love this story so far. I think you get Spike the way I get him. That even when he was the 'Big Bad' he still can be a big softy. So, this Spike may not take crap from Buffy or anybody else. But I don't think he is going to completely evil or mean to them. I don't think Spike doesn't have it in him. I think he is really going to be soft for Dawn just like the other Spike. Somethings me that at least. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Author's Response: That's exactly what I was trying to do! I see Spike that way too! I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you! Some people are having problems. That's why I put up the warning.

Great concept for a story. I wonder how this will affect
Buffy and Spike's relationship. I would think that it would have a good effect but the feelings that Spike had for Buffy will still develop. Buffy on the other hand
will see Spike and herself in a different light.i

Author's Response: I'm so glad you like it! Thank you! It's a learning process for both of them.

I actually feel bad for Buffy.. She's struggling and Spike's being a jerk (unlike before they shared a night together) which much add to her confusion.. Spike's making her feel something and he's the only one.. yeah no happy feelings there..
And Big Bad Spike.. what will come of him.. He won't stay all so evil I'm sure..
Still liking the story.. and I like that there is both Spike and Buffy's thoughts and feelings.. After the first chapter I thought maybe it's all about Spike.

And by the way, Love the banner. Spike is sexy.

Author's Response: It will be mostly Buffy's point of view, because Spike's agenda is ambiguous, even to himself. But you know where he'll end up and why. :D I'm so glad you're liking it! Thank you! A friend of mine did the banner. She finds Spike as droolworthy as I do. :D

I'm enjoying this story, but somehow I can't help feeling more for Buffy than for Spike in this one. She is way more vulnerable and damaged after all the trauma she's been through, and he just doesn't realize it -- without the love, he seems so callously dismissive or cavalier or something. Plus he's full of anger, mostly misdirected at her (since it isn't all her fault that he's so "whipped" -- the Initiative and his own nature have contributed just as much), rather than unrequited love, which is more poignant and moving, usually.

So it looks like we won't get an abusive Buffy from you in this version of S6, but I hope that doesn't mean an abusive (emotionally or otherwise) Spike this time around instead. Plus I can't see this Spike ever getting a soul for her even if we did get a bathroom scene, and I have to admit that I've always really liked soulful Spike -- I love that he went to such lengths for her.

One other thing: S6 Buffy really took Spike's love for granted, which was bad, but also made me think she was already in love with him and counting on those feelings on his part for that reason. Now that S4 Spike has told her he doesn't love her anymore, it has to be pushing her buttons in a major way. Here's another guy she sleeps with, who tells her the next day that he doesn't love her any more. I think an already damaged Buffy would be devastated by this blow, even if she is still unconscious of her feelings for him at this point.

Maybe that's way the emotional stakes of this one seem so much higher? I like it but somehow it has me really on edge, kind of like S6 did (especially when I saw how they were treating each other).

Author's Response: That line between being abusive and telling it like it is was the reason I put up the warning, people’s sensitivities varying so much. But I’m incapable of writing really dark and abusive. For one thing, that would be totally out of character even for the unsouled, badass Spike we have here. The emotional stakes really are higher here, since Buffy has treated Spike badly enough to know in her heart that she deserves the loss of love. That will help Spike’s agenda, ambiguous at the moment. But you know where he’ll end up and why. :D I like both souled and unsouled Spike and tend to swing back and forth between them. My next story will have a souled Spike, just as my last one did.

You know I hated season 6 too, but Spike wasn't exactly a saint in it either. They both had their issues although I often thought it was just the writers that did.

I love your writing but for some reason with each subsequent story your Spike keeps getting darker.

Really not enjoying where this is going. Honestly I found myself wishing that Buffy would just stake him.

I guess that means that its not the story for me huh?

I think I'll go read one of your earlier ones and skip the rest of this one.

Author's Response: No, Spike wasn't a saint either in S6, but you have to admit Buffy behaved far worse than he. This story reverses the positions. Conflict has tension and, for fun, I wanted to explore a really badass, unloving Spike. But being Spike, you know where he'll end up and why. :D I'm not capable of writing a truly dark Spike because that would be totally out of character for him. This one has an agenda, which is ambiguous at the moment but will become evident. That it's hidden at the moment is why I put up the warning. (My next story has a souled Spike. :D)

Nice change for Spike.. a little more manly and not such a whipping boy.. Love's Bitch. But I assume over time it will change. As much as he won't want it to..

Enjoying this Spike... nice twist..

Author's Response: Canon Spike made that painful, humiliating journey because he loved Buffy. This Spike isn't prepared to do that. Oh, he'll change, but he's not going to be whipped. :) Thank you for enjoying it!

I think I'm going to love this. Spike isn't going to take any of Buffy's crap. Buffy is going to learn you can't treat someone even a vampire like her personal punching bag especially a vampire who loves and just wants to help her. I was so mad at Buffy during season 6 for that. For using the feelings that Spike has for her and treat him like dirt. But I did feel bad for her too for being pull out of her peace and she thought she was done. Then she comes back and it is worst than it was before she died. Having to take care of Dawn and worrying how she is going to pay for everything. so, I do hope that her friends and Giles for leaving her at the worst time have it coming as well either from Spike or Buffy herself. All I can say is, Go Spike! Spike really is the best character ever.
I'm a little worried when you wrote in your author's note that there are parts that are not politically correct. i don't really care much for really dark stories so I hope that it isn't too bad.

Author's Response: I was mad with Buffy too about that, which is how this story came about. But I'm not really capable of writing truly dark stories, so it won't be too bad. I just thought I'd better warn people just in case.

Looking forward to the updates!

Author's Response: I'm so glad you like it! Thank you!