Any chance that paper currency was hidden within the pages of the books stored in the tunnels? That’s how money used to be hidden before banks could be trusted. Maybe a spell could move the tunnels en masse from England to the tunnels in Sunnydale - Willow, Tara, Anya, the watchers and other witches could lend a hand with that task. With slayers on hand to draw power for a spell from they could transfer tunnels from Sunnydale to the tunnels in England. Bess reminds me of the first slayer, no choice on what was done to her, violated, used and basically forgotten for a while. Her decision to have sex on her own terms was Bess flexing her boundaries of her new found freedom. For all of her insecurities, she really needs the love and acceptance of her family and Spike reassuring her that she will not be discarded is a good step in the right direction. Apparently, Wanda helped by turning the weather so that Spike could leave the pavilion, will she make an appearance any time soon? It would be fitting that she and Bess meet again to begin the healing with the Weckerly’s prodical daughter. The prophecy sounds ominous, your muse really likes riddles.

Author's Response: Hey Vette! Oh, now there's something I hadn't thought of - money hidden in the books. I've went a different direction with them and the other magical doo-dads that were safe to sell later on. Probably moving would've been easier with a spell, and with all that mystical power, it would've likely worked fine, but Giles is moving it the old fashioned way. Bess is definately testing the boundries of her new life and that will become more of an issue as time goes on. Is she a teenager or an adult? She wants to be both, as most teenagers do ... she wants the approval and the safety of family, but also wants her freedom ... we'll see how S/B handle it later. Wanda will try to let the mortals sort it out , I think partly because she wants Bess to fully accept B/S as her parents ... but I think we will see her eventually. My muse has been fiddling with those riddles/prophecies for a while ... I hope he knows what he's doing! :O As far as I know, they won't be an issue for some time (not in this story, for sure) and we'll keep getting more clues about them as time passes and Giles finds more out. Thanks so much for your ideas and thoughts! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.11.27 ps - haven't forgotten the prego-pizza ... will find a place to intersperse it, I hope!

Love the bracelet, and that Bess is already a Monty Python fan. Apple, tree. Nuff said.

Author's Response: Hey BuffyRat - oh yea, well, you know Spike would've educated her on what to watch on the Telly first thing! ;-) Glad you liked the bracelet ... More to come! -p4s 2011.11.27

Nice “do-over” with a trip down memory lane to make a sad memory into a beautiful one. This is a beautifully written chapter putting to rest some “could’a, would’a or should’a” doubts. They have their destiny and from the ashes of their most dire suffering blossoms a miracle of new life and beginnings. Bess and the unborn child are a result of the wish world. Bess having survived such horrible experiences is truly walking in her parents footsteps and I can only hope that her rewards exceed her worst experiences. She may also need to experience a “do-over” of her own to leave the mother country. Any turned “Spike-ish” watchers out there for a boyfriend for Bess? That would be ironic after having been tormented by watchers for so long yet fitting. Looks in the demon yellow pages to find the demonic version of “E-Harmony.com” to find a love match for Bess. What? They could possibly have one! Love how Spike returned Buffy jewelry with all the love and sentiment that they represented when he bought them for her. The magically created room is such a lovely idea! Leave it to Spike to think of the little details to make their night unforgettable. Is Buffy going to see a prenatal doc soon? Hope so, just to ensure that her unborn babe has come through unharmed from Buffy’s strong emotions and trauma. Speaking of trauma, they all experienced intense trauma, do vampires and slayers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder? I would think that they would hate to over react to the children role playing scenes from Star Wars once they get home. Darn your muse for his sinister attraction on sucking your readers in for more details!

Thank you for giving our Spuffy couple such a lovely evening together. More soon please

Author's Response: Oh, the night isn't over yet!! It only gets better! :P Will try to have another chapter soon!! Thanks Melly!! -p4s 2011.11.22

The money troubles never stop it seems. Well we never knew how the council got money, just a comment about alchemists and I'm not sure that was serious.

It was nice that Buffy and Spike get to have a wonderful date after all this.

Good pictures, the Buffy picture after the pandora box, and the blue lights pictures was very nice.

Author's Response: Hi Magnus ... my theory on the Council's money is perhaps the long standing Watcher families perhaps funded it long ago. But ... never know - whereever the money came from, it's gone now. I love that picture of Buffy after the jewelry, I only wish it had been larger ... she looks really happy and pretty there. The pictures of London down by the Eye are awesome - according to my beta, that is exactly how it is down there by the river at night - really beautiful and she says riding the Eye after dark is magical. One day I hope to get there ... Will be more of their date next, then back to SunnyD. Thanks so much for always stopping in! Will try to find more nice pictures of Buffy for ya! :) -p4s 2011.11.22

Suffy & Spike are gonna kill Anya, lol.
funny chapter!

Author's Response: LOL! Glad you liked it! Hopefully Annie can talk them out of actually killing Anya! :) Don't be a stranger! Love hearing from everyone! -p4s 2011.11.22

Just wonderful and how awkward that was for Xander. Now Buffy doesn't have to tell Annie about this, but I don't think she will be that grateful.

Author's Response: Hi Magnus!! Poor Xander - You'd think he'd be used to being in that position by now, but I guess not! Somehow I think Buffy could be a little perturbed at Anya ... hopefully not too much. We will find out, but it will be a while. Thanks so much for always stopping in!! Love hearing from U! -p4s 2011.11.22

I have to say I laughed out loud while reading Anya's explanation of intercourse and the positions. I can't imagine Spike and Buffy's reaction when Annie tells them what she learned. Very funny.

Author's Response: Hi Bridget! Yay! I'm glad you got some chuckles!! Hopefully Annie can keep her parents from actually killing Anya ... :) They will find out, it will be a while, but they will... Thanks so much for reading! -p4s 2011.11.22

Thanks for such a wonderful chapter! Although you do have me worried about the prophecies that Travers mentioned. More soon please.

Author's Response: Hi Melly! Giles will do more research on the prophecies and more about them will be revealed over time; those will play out over a long while - it will be many years before fruition (I think, unless my muse changes his mind, which he's been known to do). So, don't fret over them too much just now. Glad you enjoyed the chapter! -p4s 2011.11.22

Great idea to move the Watcher's Council. With such a loving family I think Bess will be able to adapt to living in the world. Thanks for another great update. More soon please.

Author's Response: Hi Melly! I'm glad you like the idea of moving the Council closer to the action! We'll find out how well Bess can adapt to life on the outside and also how she'll do with an instant family after being alone for so long. Thanks much - got another chapter up for you! -p4s 2011.11.16

Love how the re-organization is being hashed out – a “round table” structure of sorts to have checks and balances between watchers and slayers. Going high tech would also be good, the initiative type of weaponry and communication devices should start being put into play or even research and design done to create wooden bullets for guns, holy water grenades for example to use when facing large amounts of vampires. The scythe is one weapon that slayers seem to enjoy using, could that be duplicated by the wiccans? Are they going to invite witches into their organization? When you think about it, the watchers council which really should be re-named as “The Council” is the equivalent of Wolfram and Hart and both sides use magic. The vampires that interrupted the Weckerly’s chocolate session really deserved to be dusted. EVIL! Sounds like Buffy and Spike are now staff members and should not have to worry about where their next dollar comes from. Slips your muse a list of things to eat for Buffy and Bess, order pizza please! Only Buffy may want to have one made just for her with her pregnant cravings. Look forward to more.

Author's Response: Hi Vette! First, let me say, love the Pizza idea - I will try to slide that in the story somewhere with some squicky preggers pizza for Buffy! :) (do you have any requests? Hawaiian pizza with anchovies, peanut butter, pickles and chocolate sprinkles maybe?) I think it makes more sense for 'The Council' to be more like a back-office support staff for the Slayers - kinda like MI6/ Q Branch for Bond ... and I'd say they'd keep their relationship with the Coven in Canada, and draw on Willow and Tara, as well. Your ideas for the weapons are great and would fit in with that idea of the support group coming up with different things for them to use to battle evil, as well as getting all the demons classified and books scanned and searchable online, etc. It may take a while to get all that set up, but that's where I'm heading .. I hope. My muse does have a habit of doing about-faces on me without notice! LOL! We can hope it doesn't turn into GET SMART rather than BOND! LOL! Anyone interrupting an Ice Cream session deserves to be dusted! heehee! Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas and indepth reviews! Love hearing from you! -p4s 2011.11.16

Nicely done. I loved Bess's excitement when she went into the sun. Spike is really a good Dad. I would guess that Bess still has her soul.

Author's Response: Hi Bridget! I can't imagine how overwhelming it would be to go out into the sun after being hidden underground for so long *and* fearing it. Spike is a good dad ... he really would do anything for his bits and Buffy ... and he may before it's all over. And your guess would be right ... :P Thanks again!! -p4s 2011.11.16

What a culture shock Bess is experiencing with the modern world and her memories of Victorian etiquette and morality. Freedom must be scary and exhilarating at the same time and her independence will take time to soak in for her. For having been abuse for over a century, she is adjusting very well. Is she sharing her soul with Dani? Or, has she always possessed her soul being a turned slayer, which would show just how strong she is to have survived the treatment she received from the Watcher’s. En-souled or not, she seems to know right from wrong and her bloodlust seems to be under control so far. As for what Giles will do for the watcher’s council, I think that any documentation regarding what Travers was doing should be destroyed to keep any successors from continuing his work. If Travers has any children then I would most certainly keep an eye on them, for all the Scooby’s know, he had documentation stashed at his home. How will they explain the dead guards and watcher’s? Do they blow up the building and let them be considered casualties? Whatever they decide to do, they need to make sure that no trace of their ambitions to fulfill a prophecy should be left behind to be taken up by future watchers. I think that back pay is due Bess so that she can go to college and not consider herself a burden to anyone. Look forward to more.

Author's Response: Hi Vette! As always an insightful review! I think that Dani, Billy, and Bess all have some amount of sharing of souls going on ... we'll probably find out more about that later, although my muse hasn't commented too much on that yet. It could manifest later, perhaps draw her into the ability to communicate silently like Dani and Billy can. I agree that it would be an excellent idea to keep an eye on any of Travers' family, esp. males who think they should be entitled to be Watchers. Spike also loved the idea of Bess gettting 'back pay' .... heehee! He makes your point shortly. {Thanks for that idea!} I think, besides Bess having her soul, her blood lust is somewhat controlled by her being used to drinking animal blood for so long. It wasn't clear if, when she was first turned, if she killed any humans or not - or just the vamps that turned her. That could be another thing for my muse to explore later. The Council has deep ties with the authorities in London - explaining deaths has become commonplace over the many decades they have been there. Thanks again for the wonderful review! Always a pleasure! -p4s 2011.11.16