Wow, not what I expected at all. I thought that you were going to go through the first years of Spikes in Sunndyale but this is much, much better. I can't wait for an update. I usually let you make a few updates before I read but now I am going to be biting my nails!

Author's Response: I'm working on the next chapter now, and I hope to have it finished in the next couple of days. It's great to hear that you're still enjoying the fic. Thank you! :-)

This is a meaty chapter in all the things going on. It was great to see Dawn come to check on Spike and seeking him out as a friend to discuss Buffy's return with and the questions she has on it and it says a lot she does not go to the Scoobies for that. I loved the line about the "dress pretty nice for a hell dimension" and Dawn knowing she was on earth and not someplace else. I'm pretty sure Dawn would not know of Spikes era but I think sonner or later she could guess it all out by Spikes reactions. Would it not be a shock to see the one person who was really nice to Buffy in the past was the one person everyone in SunnyD is so set on hating.

Author's Response: No, I think you're right about that. I don't remember anyone speaking to Dawn about Spike's past (or the year in which he was changed), so I don't think she would know that it's the same era in which he insinuated Buffy's dress might be from. But you're also right in that Dawn is very, very smart. She might just figure it out on her own. Thanks for reviewing! :-)

Beautiful love scene you really showed Buffy as Elizabeth being so giving to William. I'm hoping i's enough to make Spike see she loved him and might still want to care for him. I hate always saying please more but its your own fault you leave me wanting to gobble up more and more of this story.

Author's Response: lol. You're so nice, and it's just wonderful to know that you're still enjoying the story. I'm working on the next chapter now, and, Muse willing, it should be finished in the next couple of days. Thanks for the review! :-D

Wow Dawn even told him about the mark of her I didn't think she would and am so glad she did. Dawn is always key in giving spike Buffy insights. And Angel miss your plane or or or something!!!

Author's Response: lol. Poor Angel. No one wants him around! I wonder why? ;-) Thanks for the review! :-)

You made me laugh with Angel's "oh, God, not the phone again" exhaustion. I also like that he genuinely cares enough to not trust Willow to perform perfect magic.

I'm wondering if it will only be Angel that shows up, or some of his group, too?

I see it going two ways with Angel - 1) Buffy revolts immediately because he's been Angelus very recently in her experience, or 2) Since he wasn't involved in bringing her back, she might actualy trust him enough to spill her story. I would find it *very* interesting if Angel ended up being the pro-Spuffy component, here, since the majority of authors make him such a hindrance. Angel's already been shifting his view towards Cordy by this point in the timeline, so it'd be nice if he was past the "Buffy is true love" and more on the "Buffy is someone I love" track.

But either way, Buffy's going to handle seeing him MUCH better than Spike will! Dawn's words helped, but Spike is still in a tremulous position until he gets things straight with Buffy. I think if he just sees her eyes now, if he sees her looking haunted by all she's lost, then Spike's anger will shift. He can't help loving her and thinking of her welfare, so......

Willow......she was always SO pushy about the Buffy/Angel relationship. I think she saw it as the ultimate fairytale come to life, and just HAD to make it reality. Willow, for lack of a better analogy, pulls the strings on Buffy and Angel to put them in her fantasy fanfic story for her ultimate couple. They're her OTP, for reasons that were never based in reality.........I think she can live through that relationship, live vicariously through Buffy the Heroine and Angel the Hot But Tortured Soul, because Willow never saw herself getting a "dream guy". And even Oz and Tara weren't enough for her because she still becomes obsessed with power. It isn't about Buffy or Angel at all - it's about Willow's favorite romance story.

Whew, that was a lot of extrapolating!

I LOVE your Dawn....that scene rocked, and it was so nice to see Spike remembering being with Elizabeth in the dream. You can't help falling for William.

Author's Response: Glad you liked the Angel scene. I like Angel - not really on BtVS, because he seemed very much a one-dimensional character on that show. But on his own show, he had a certain quirky charm. He, like Spike, had moments of overwhelming selfishness and immaturity, but I think that very quality is what makes him seem so ... well, human. The chapter would have ended with Willow's phone call anyway, but I wanted to add that first paragraph to let people know that Angel's intentions *aren't* bad. That's not to say bad things won't come from his visit (of course, it might all turn out fine), but he's no longer the cruel Angelus of London who tried to rape her. I think your dissection of Willow's motives is spot-on. She did seem fixated on the fairytale element of Buffy and Angel's relationship, and that made it harder for her to see its flaws. The interactions between Spike and Dawn are just an absolute pleasure to write, because there is already a great base to build on; they had a wonderful chemistry together in season 5 and early season 6. Of course, the BtVS writing staff eventually ruined that, but still ... And can I just how how much I loved reading your review? Detailed reviews make my day, so thank you very much! :-D

Great update. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt about Angel. Can't see where you are going with that? However, on past experience I will trust you .
Please update soon.

Author's Response: Yep, just trust me. There is a reason for it, I promise. Thanks for the review, and the faith in my writing! :-)

I really love your take on Dawn in this so often every writes her like a nightmare and forgets her insights and how she always fed Spikes hopes. To me this says it all “Maybe she wasn’t so unhappy there. Maybe someone was really nice to her. Like, really nice,” Dawn is thinking circles around everyone else in the house.

Author's Response: Poor Dawn. The BtVS writers gave her so much potential and then just sort of dropped her after early season six. I'm with you; she's a very insightful character, and she and Spike have such a wonderful dynamic. The scenes with them really were a pleasure to write. I'm glad to know you enjoyed reading them. Thank you! :-)

“She—she’s wearing this bracelet, and she won’t take it off. It looks really expensive.”

She wouldn’t take it off; he could have cried at that.

Lying bitch—

Does she still want me—?

Oh, God, could she still want—


This just grabs the heart!!!! I love it!!!


Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm glad that scene spoke to you. :-D

((Because if you did, if you hurt her, I will crack open your head.))
Yep Angel is his same old self. I get a bad feeling on this........................


Author's Response: Your fears may not be unfounded. ;-)

I like Angel I just like him elsewhere and Willow are you on the black magic crack? I know she your best friend but at times you just wish your friends would lay off. Tara your woman is losing it step in a little.
Loved the Spike and Dawn friendship and the love scene was sweet.



Author's Response: I think your sentiments are the best Angel can hope for on a Spuffy site, lol. If he's not faced with overwhelming hatred, then he's doing well. But I'm right there with you. I like Angel fine, but I like him a whole lot better when he's in L.A. Thanks so much for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. :-)

I,m going to review more later. I´m at work right now, but as always just wanted to say that this is fantastic as usual.
I Loved the Dawn and Spike interaction. Very tender, and very informative for Spike. I hope he does something good with this information. Please update soon!!!! It can´t really go fast enough!!!!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! :-D

Hope for William/Spike.. the bracelet.

Enjoying.

Author's Response: It's great to know that you are. Thank you. :-)

oooo interesting....mabey angel will be able to tell the others buffy has spikes scent lol ......

cant wait for the next chapter update....i'm loving it:)

Author's Response: I'm glad that you are. Thank you! :-D