It's getting better and better. Now, we are in familiar territory and, if you'll excuse the pun, you've gone straight for the jugular - because here comes Angel.

The Spike and Dawn scene was not only touching but very informative: she unwittingly revealed things about Buffy which made his heart yearn and his head seethe and it gave us an opportunity to see the Spike of now. Still a demon, living in a crypt but with a huge helping of empathy and humanity hiding beneath that sneer of leather. Would you believe it - the evil undead into a bit of self-harming. This soulless demon is hurting - both mentally and physically.

The Scoobies, of course, are on the periphery of all this angst yet still retain the right to interfere, judge, meddle, etc., and although Willow has a slight perception that all is not as it seems, for the most part her calling Angel is certainly an interference that will, if anything, bring both Spike and Buffy's hidden agenda out into the open. For sure, the oblivious actions of Angel, aka the L.A. Knight ("Angel Investigations - we help the helpless") will provoke reactions from both Buffy and Spike.

A front-row seat, please.

Author's Response: For the last three seasons of BtVS I had this odd love/hate relationship with the Scoobies. I know that they loved Buffy and only wanted what was best for her, but, like you said, they thought that it gave them the right to judge her, interfere with her life, and tell her what to do. And for some reason, she always let them. Some part of me would have loved for them all to have just shut up and minded their own business in this chapter, but if I had ... it wouldn't have been in character for them, would it? lol. Thanks so much for your review! :-)

Very good, I loved it. I can't wait for the next chapter and to see how the confrontation with Angel goes.

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

Damn Willow and her stupidity! You know, that was one major thing that always brassed me off about Buffy's so called friends...why would they ever think that a Slayer, fighter for the good and what not, be sent to a hell dimension for saving the world from evil? Idiots, the whole lot of them. Anyway, before I start ranting, great chapter and as always...looking forward to more. I really am eager to hear what Buffy has to finally say about her adventure, even if it is only to Dawn...or even herself. Spike would be better, of course. :) **grins wickedly**

Author's Response: That was the very same question I asked my hubby (then b/f) when "Bargaining" first aired. Why would they assume that the soul of a Slayer would end up in hell? She'd died saving the world! Makes me angry to this day, lol. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and thanks so much for taking the time to review it. :-)

It's at times like these that I REALLY dislike season 6 Willow. Seriously, it's rare that I will truly be angry at a character-- but the REASONING behind all of her behavior is pretty much a superiority complex that she really had no basis for in the first place! grr. I love Willow to death, but I miss old Willw. :( Season 2 and 3 Willow! 4 is pretty cool. 1 is just too sweet, she needs to grow up a bit! And 7..... ehhhhhhhh okay. :P Blah. CAN NOT WAIT FOR MORE! Even though Willow is driving me crazy I understand exactly why she's doing what she's doing, and it's beautifully problematic. :) Loving every chapter of this!

Author's Response: I couldn't agree with you more. Season six Willow was just an ego maniac, very grrr worthy. I'm glad you're enjoying the story despite the desire to throttle her (I had that desire while I was writing it, lol) and thanks so much for the review. :-)

Yay for more! And Dawn? Gotta love her, and the thoughts she's put into luscious Spike's head. Can't wait for the confrontation between he and Buffy, and he and Buffy and Angel. Gotta be awesome. Thanks for giving us a great story!

CT.

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for the kind review. :-D

Wow, this if that was a capitulate INTENSE!
In the first part, we see, like Willow feels with rights to act itself to the backs of evrybody, without taking into account the feelings or opinions from Buffy or the rest from scubbies, in the third part, finally it yields to her own desires and decides to call to Ange, and this is something that I do not believe that it brings nothing good for the reconciliation of Buffy and Spike/William
Dawnn has a truely tender relation with Spike, as if outside its older brother, very beautiful! it seems that she wil be the one that is on the awares to him to Spike about how Buffy by its return feels, that really loves him
And I must tell you: never belive that you wrote of the first night between William and Elizabeth, adorable, the tenderness, the love, the passion...I always have thought who the jealousy are a sign of lack of self-confidence, and William is the king of the insecurities,
even in a while like this, their insecurities emerge, and also I can see small parts of Spike being born in: his obsecion to have to Elizabeth only for his own of an almost fierce way!
Keep writting, you gotme sitting in the border of my chair!! i gona send you a basket of cokies for you an you muse

Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked it! :-)

Oh here comes Devill uh ohh i mean Angel to the rescue! Yuckkk! What good can he do? What im very interested to know is how Buffy feels now. Im a little dissapointed that she is not here in this chapter. But Dawn saved the day!!! I truly truly love her for caring genuinely for Spike! Who would have thought that such a young girl could actually distinguished a good man from a bad one? From the start, she and Joyce are the only true friends of Spike who believed in him. And now she is there when Spike needed him most. I wish Spike could tell her what happened. Although i feel totally proud of Spike for not telling her. He kept it all to himself and didnt take it out on her. And the way he always thinks of Buffy's welfare before him amazes me! Even after all that happened he still unselfishly wants Buffy not to be harrassed by her friends. When he could be the one harassing her because he thinks that Buffy intentionally made him love her. Instead he took his anger on himself. By destroying his hands that wanted so much to destroy her for putting him into this lovesick mess. Oh please put an end to his torture and mine, too! let us know what Buffy's thoughts are soooon!

Author's Response: Buffy's thoughts will be a main focus of the next chapter, don't worry. I loved hearing your thoughts on this chapter, and you are spot on in your analysis of Spike's actions. Thanks so much for such a lovely, insightful review. :-)

GOD DAMNIT WHY DID SHE HAVE TO CALL HIM AND WHY IS HE COMING!!! HES GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING UP!!! i LOVE this story and am so happy that u updated. i think its so sweet that dawn fixed him up and talked to him about buffs situations. i really hope that spike got that buffy didnt want to leave him and loved wat they had and was happy. also i hope spike and buffy talk about things and that they work things out. PLEASE update as soon as u can, i cant wait to read more. thanx so much

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the chapter and that you reacted so intensely to it - it's a sign that I did my job right! As always, I appreciate hearing your thoughts. :-)

Hee! Something tells me Angel isn't going to get the warm welcome from Buffy that he might think. I love the Dawn/Spike interaction from the last chapter and from this one. I don't think I will ever get enough of this story.

Author's Response: How wonderful to know! I hope I can keep you that interested in the future. Thank you! :-)

cool chapter i was really hoping for the bit buffy spike meeting but i understand that you needed to set it all up and all that...just one serious question.....why do we need angel here anyway??? all he ever does is screw everything up and then get all broody about it (no offence to angel lovers?) but yeah is he really needed? ooh and btw i went back and read the remakes of your earlier chapters they are definately better than the originals more detailed although i love the story either way just wanted to give you props for it ^^

Author's Response: Yep, Angel is necessary to the plot. Sorry you don't like him, but that's just how it's got to be. I'm glad you liked the revisions of the other chapters, though. Thanks so much for letting me know! :-)

I think Elizabeth once said "Who knew what Spike might remember once he was vamped?"
Well it seems he remembers everything of his formet life including her as his love and future wife. As to how they will handle it will be exciting to see.




Author's Response: I'm glad you liked it. Thanks! :)

Put it together, did he, I can hardly wait. Our girl so lost clawing her wait, instinctively back home, and to solidly remember first and foremost what Spike really means to her... Even through the delusions and fatigue. And the moment that he knows, how will he react, to already be in love with the girl, to find out that , well, you already did once love that girl. I can only imagine. Words don't really express how much I love it.

Author's Response: It's wonderful to hear that you enjoy my story so much. Thank you! :-D