Starts throwing darts at your evil muse for all this angst! So Cecily took her life for her own, now that took planning! Just wonder who the human was that made the wish for her. Scratches head on who hated either Buffy or Spike that much to change reality. Whoever did must have a better reality in this current time line. Buffy no longer has anything to lose, no more leverage over her, everything she held dear with the exception of Dawn has been taken away. That means that she can be as fearless and brutal as she wishes to be. As Angelus once asked her "Now that's everything, huh? No weapons... No friends... No hope. Take all that away... and what's left?" Buffy: "Me." Hopefully this crisis has awoken a sleeping giant within Buffy giving her the resolve and strength to bring the walls of the Halley’s wish tumbling down. Looking at spells used on the show two come to mind to use in Buffy’s case, “Summon Wish Demon” the spell used to summon Anyanka in the episode “The Wish”. The other spell “tirer la couture – pull the curtain back” a trance to see spells. Is a vengeance wish a spell? Either way, a witch is a must to help Buffy to gain back her real life. Throws more darts and glares at your muse!

Author's Response: **Handsome, evil muse ducks darts - smirks at you - HA! you missed!** I think that Buffy's come to the conclusion that Hallie is human and made the wish to one of her vengeance demon friends, so she didn't have to find someone else to make the wish, she could make it to her specifications - perfectly and for utmost pain and suffering inflicted on Spike and Buffy. Yep, except for Dawn, Buffy has nothing now - just 'me' and that will come into play soon. She will be using some spells as you suggested, but first she has to get some help casting them and finding the correct spells ... where, oh where will she find help like that??

Thanks so much for stopping in ... even with the darts! heehee! Sorry, the angst is not over yet! keep those darts handy! {{hugs}} -P4S 2011.05.29

Spike’s gone all Angelus on Buffy. Too bad his demon cannot remember his love for Buffy proving that a demon cannot love as old Buffy used to say. Buffy’s survival instinct should kick in and basically go for the privates to dislodge Spike off her. Where are those pesky flying werewolves when you need them? That would also be another way to get Spike off her, either way, Buffy’s plan to save Spike just turned to an escape plan. Funny how her guardian angel affected reality with her own power to give Buffy a cryptic message, darn the no interference clause they seem to have, it would have come in handy to help Buffy even just a crumb to set things right. Buffy needing a witch is akin to Dorothy in the Land of Oz trying to find a way back home. The journey is filled with tests before her wish is granted. Will Spike go too far? Only your evil muse knows! Glares at him!



Author's Response: Hi Vette! Yeah, those werewolves would come in handy about now ... too bad Spike devoured two of them, that might discourage more from f'ing with him!

Her guardian angel delivered a message ... messages are ok ... especially cryptic ones (isn't that what the PTB usually send?) they just can't take direct action to help her .... according to the rules, anyway. I guess we'll see what Buffy does with that message ...

My muse is smirking at your glare ... he loves to get glared at ... he's so evil! I think maybe his soul is lost somewhere in the ether sometimes! Maybe I need to get a witch to re-ensoul him!

Thanks sooo much for reading and leaving such insightful reviews! Always love hearing from you! -P4S 2011.05.29

Damn useless Oracles...I knew they wouldn't do anything. At least Buffy pulled a nice little trick and got them to help in some way. I have a feeling the tribunal will probably be useless too.

Loved ths SSSCCC ritual LOL.

*hugs*

Author's Response: heehee ! Glad you liked the SSSCCC ritual! LOL! Poor Fred, so nice and gullible! Yeah, everyone knew the Oracles wouldn't help, but at least Buffy made some waves, maybe Lilah will come thru! Thanks so much for reading and stopping in, AMI! Love your reviews! -P4S 2011.05.29

As always a good angsty chapter. Coul she really go back in time as she thought when they are in a new timeline? Those things didn't happen in this timeline.

Author's Response: Glad you think it was a "good angsty" chapter ... because there are lots more where that came from! LOL! We'll just have to wait and see about the going back in time bit ... not sure if that will really work or not. Thanks so much for reading and stopping in! You know I love hearing from U!! -P4S 2011.05.29

Love how Buffy challenged their logic and how there was no balance to their trial. Not having an accounting of Spike's good deeds truly is unjust. She really should just ask the PTB to bring forward Hallie for a battle where winner takes all! That way Buffy can beat the tar out of Hallie. That way she can goad Hallie into spilling the beans on what she did. D'Hoffryn should be present to witness the battle to hear for himself how Hallie used her magic's for her own personal vengeance which qualifies her wish null and void. BOY! Don't I just spin a good barrel of bologne? LOL! See you've got me all rev'd up!

Author's Response: Hi Vette! I'm so glad you're all rev'd up! Yay! I love your ideas! Too bad Buffy didn't think of them at the time! :D She will have her chance with Hallie, though, so hang in there! Thanks again for reading and getting rev'd up - that makes my day! -P4S 2011.05.29

The Oracles reacted somewhat like I thought they would. I really liked how Buffy handeled the situation.

Author's Response: Hi Magnus ... yeah, I guess their response was no surprise, but I'm glad you liked how Buffy handled it. We'll see if it does any good or not ... soon. Thanks so much for reading and stopping in! I always love hearing from you! -P4S 2011.05.29

Well that is a bit disappointing. Hopefully they can speed up this process and get onto something else. There is always light, even if the tunnel is long. Update soon.

Author's Response: Hi Buffyrat ... sorry for the disappointment - unfortunately, the tunnel is very long and the light at the end just might be a train! Thanks for reading and stopping in ... hang in there, you never know, that light might not be a train after all ... -P4S 2011.05.29

Just when Spike thought he was out, they pull him back in! The veil of purgatory and paradise seems to be a place of smoke and mirrors where unseen beings are jailors who can torment and punish at will. To learn that time runs faster for Spike is unsettling; he really is a strong person to withstand the trials and hauntings of his victims. I hope that Spike can focus on his family to keep from going insane. Seems like Buffy can hurt and kill these unseen jailors, just how many are sent to retrieve Spike is unknown; he must’ve sensed a whole bunch of them to react the way he did. Buffy finding the amulet is good - does that mean that Angel will be an ally? With any luck, she can get to the Oracles and find a way to help get her true life back. Really intense chapter, your muse is sharpening his torture instruments again. Its going to be a bumpy ride!

Author's Response: Hi Vette! Yes, the curtain between the two is thin, but hard for mortals to cross ... apparently not hard for the messengers or chauffers to get through, though. We never know where Angel's loyalty will lie, do we (or do we??)? She may turn to him later as a nearly last resort ... so we will find out. Oh yes, my muse has been sharpening his heart wrenching tools ... hang on, buckle up, keep your hands and feet inside the car - this ride has only just begun! Thanks sooo much for reading and your always insightful reveiws! Love hearing from you, Vette! -P4S 2011.05.23

Well, now we are back with the angst. The amulet is found at least. The Oracles will probably not be of any use, but let's see what they have to say.

Author's Response: Hi Magnus! Yep - that's it for the fun and games, back to the heart of the story and the angst. We'll just have to see if Buffy can get anything out of the Oracles or not ... You're right, they weren't very helpful on the show, but maybe she can find something to use for leverage...

Thanks again for reading and always stopping in! Love hearing from you! -P4S 2011.05.22

Another great chapter. I love Buffy and Spike. I am happy that your muse extended their time together.

Author's Response: Hi Bridget! Yeah, I was glad he decided to give them a little more happy time before getting back to the plot and the angst. Glad you enjoyed it too!! Thanks so much for reading and stopping in! -P4S 2011.05.22

Hope that this moment lost in time is not the calm before the storm. So glad that they got to some peace, love and laughter to help them endure for what is to come. They seem to have butterflies symbolize their souls as soul mates (am I off the mark…hope not). Their children in this reality were never born, do their souls also have butterflies that could help them cope with the loss of not being able to love and hold them? Paradise may be able to reunite all their spiritual souls together to nurture and fortify what is at stake, with any luck, Dawn can make a wish and force Hallie to make an appearance and wish for things to go back as they were only with her in it this time. Dawn needs a reward too. Maybe the magic from the scythe can achieve and improve on the life they left behind. I’m listening to the song “Mad World” sung by Gary Jules as I read every chapter of your story; somehow it seems to fit this segment of the universe. Loved how their souls touched as if pledging themselves to each other beyond their physical bodies. Again, look forward to reading more.

Author's Response: Hi Vette - you are exactly right - the butterflies are their souls ... or the symbols of their souls, at least. It's gonna get complicated with the children in a bit, so I don't think their souls will be here to give any aid or comfort. The idea of making their own (Buffy and/or Dawn) wish will be explored later, too ... I don't think I know that song, I'll check it out - it sounds fitting!

Will have more I think Sunday at the latest. Trying not to get too far ahead of my beta, the next chapter is done, but not sure when the one after that will be done ... so I'm trying to space them out a bit (it's not easy for me to do! I just want to post, but it's probably better to space it out a litlle!).

Thanks so much for reading and stopping in here! I love hearing from you - always insightful reviews! -P4S 2011.05.21

Wow..what a beautiful, sweet chapter. They needed this so bad. Really great writing..you gave them hope and love, and something to hold on to...HOPE!

So happy they're out of werewolfspiderland, I hope whenever they meet from now on it they come back to butterflyland. :) Loved the pics and the song (one of my fave songs at the moment.)

Thanx for this chappie...we needed it amongst all the angst...which we will now get back to..evil, evil P4S.

Loved it as usual, can't wait for more.:)

Author's Response: Hi AMI! Yes, they (and we!) definately need a little break from 'RL' .

Author's Response: Well ... that sucked ... I don't know what I hit, but it entered before I finished typing! Anyway ... I love that song, too!!

Gonna try to have another chapter up tomorrow (Friday ... oh, I guess that's now today... :O ) and the next, I hope on Saturday or Sunday ... got most of the screencaps, just waiting for beta now... (not PaganBaby)

And yes, you know my muse well enough to know that we are no where near the end of the angst!

Thanks soooo much for readng and stopping in. I really hope you like where this story goes, despite the angst, I hope it will keep you enthralled! {{hugs}} -P4S 2011.05.20