This is one of the best fics I've had the pleasure of reading. The character delevopement is rounded and full of life. I can picture each character in all their glory. Please keep writing!

I wondered if Illyra and Buffy would start to fight. Not at the moment it seems, they are all safe. The way the same goal anyway: to save Spike. ~ Till next part!

Wow! What a chapter!
So GLAD to see you're fit again and back!
So glad Tara is back...I saw something once about Amber not wanting to come back S7 'cos Joss wanted to make her come back evil, and she didn't feel this was a positive role model to portray to young ladies. So far this Kennedy doesn't seem as foul...which tears it whether she should be let down easy or kicked to the curb...I can commiserate w/poor little Andrew---tho' not a total geek, and definitely not a sci-fi collectibles geek, I do remember my sigh of relief that my Star Wars(I or IV depending on how ya look at 'em) 2d Release One Sheet poster had made it out of our housefire safe & relatively unscathed after out house fire, safe in it's thick cardboard tube.
The bit with Fred kinda surprized me. The Fred/Illyria saying she wasn't Fred but something new, and needing Spike to know exactly what had been done. Interesting point, on "Fred" being the leftovers/memories, etc, that HAD been Fred, kinda like the COW's, Giles et al, had believed re: vamps/host bodies. As to the heart of...back when everybody linked up/joined up magickally to beat Adam, wasn't Xander the "Heart" of the group?
Glad you're back, update soon!
~~K.~~
~~fyreburned~~

Excellent chapter, particularly the characterization of Illyria/Fred. It adds a new layer on her relationship with Spike. Looking forward to seeing what happens next. Thanks!

So everybody will be in LA soon it seems.
Kennedy won't pleased (she isn't already) that Willow didn't talk to her. Especially when she knows about Tara. So it is really her indeed.
And just like Spike said: it's always about the blood.
I just wanted to say well good then that Buffy is on her way, right? But there she is :) Time to save Spike now.

Absolutely brilliant! I always knew it was gonna come down to needing Buffy's blood. And I still love that Tara is back and it's like she was never gone. Can't wait to see how Kennedy handles that one! Love the details about why the First couldn't use Tara, that always bugged me. Update soon please!

Unexpected! So Willow brought Tara back; but it was an accident. Looking forward to more (what that means now).

Can't wait to see what happens next!

Great chapter! Can't wait for more!

Thanks for the update. I really enjoyed the conversation between Dawn and Buffy. However, I am not happy that you ended it there. Please update soon.

I just read through the first 8 and I'm hooked! Hopefully the injuries that Spike sustained won't be too much for Willow to attempt to heal. Looking forward to future chapters!

interesting, enjoying the Willow, Illyria interaction..perhaps a future relationship.?
will you be updating?

Author's Response: That would be a big Yes! My beta is having RL issues, so I decided while I was waiting for her to resolve them I'd sit down and write a few more chapters. I sent her at least 20 so as soon as I get them I will be posting again. This fic is is very nearly finished... Yay me!