What a great chapter! I love the beautiful relationship between Spike and Buffy and that it all could have developed in the same way from early S6 if Joss and the writers had made different choices. I think it’s great you’ve chosen to have the angst be not between S & B but to come from the others. Can’t wait for Xander to instigate a huge blow-up in the next chapter!

Looked for this as soon as I got up this morning and read it again tonight. Love the way B/S are developing. I expect nothing of Xander he's a prat. Looking forward to the big confrontation.

I physically couldn't stop reading up until this point. I am amazed by your story and hope that you'll continue writing. About time a story so in depth and so fitting to all the characters came around. nicely done.

Ho hum, wonderful chapter again. Do you think you could tone down the brilliance just a little? I mean, reeeealy. Dawn and Tara's reaction to Willow's Fantasiafest was truly unnerving. I was hoping you would have them just back out of the kitchen, but wasn't prepared for the hysterical laughing. That whole situation, from Willow not caring how many days she'd been absent to Xander's schooled denial, was just unsettling. Your potrayal of Willow in the kitchen was something that would have played so (no pun intended) magically on the screen. I could just see that whole scene unfold and got goosebumps all over my arms. At this point, allowing Willow free roam over the Summers' household is like giving Maggie Walsh an all access pass to the town of Sunnydale. Who knows what she's going to stick her finger in next? Whereas before she was infuriating and frustrating me, now she is just outright scaring me. I'm feeling the heebie-jeebies right about now. Loved the moment at the end with Spike and Buffy. I'm so glad that the majority of the angst will not be centered on their burgeoning relationship. I'm sure the upcoming talk with the Scoobs won't be a walk in the park, but hopefully Buffy is now emotionally secure enough to face them...I hope? I can't wait to see the big confrontation.

I simply love it! There's nothing more to say for me! :)

XANDER IS A JERK. IT'S TOO BAD YOU COULDN'T MAKE HIM MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT BUFFY AND SPIKE BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE REALISTIC. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I REALLY LIKE THIS STORY.

another chapter from a great writer. willow was something. loved the "mrs.weasley on crack". that was too funny. tara and dawn having to see that...how unnerving for them after everything theyt ahve been thru at the hands of willow and she just doesn't care. xander not having a clue is par for the course but he was deliberate in his "bathroom" excuse. used that to go upstairs to see what buffy was up to. no doubt in my mind that he knew damn well spike would be in there with her. his jealousy is going to get him in big trouble....i hope. "yeah, there is an us"......*sighs*.....spike can read her like no other. bravo, bravo

Willow is danger on legs! Wow.
My thanks to the little spider because of it I got to read the new chapter. I wonder if Buffy’s angst would get better if they mated .. but this is maybe to early in the game.

Absolutely fabulous updates! I've often thought as you - that Willow certainly knew what she was doing and she always wanted to get her way. I thought Joss let the "dark Willow" concept die too quickly. Yes, there is a childlike essence to Willow but it's her darkness that overwhelms her for whatever reason. The tenderness between Buffy and Spike is wonderful - I often felt that while Buffy seemed "co-dependent" on Spike that she really did love him. (Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it) I never did like the whole Angel bit - he left her. Yes, he was cruel because he lost his soul but Spike was never cruel to her without his soul. (Not really anyway) I look forward to the next round of updates. Simply marvelous!

I really like what you have to say about Angel and Buffy's relationship here. That's exactly what it seemed like to me, especially given Angel's behavior converning Buffy once he went to LA. Nice to see someone agrees with me. ;) Overall, I'm really enjoying this fic. It's very well written, and you've managed to change things without losing the voice of the show--something very few fanfic writers can do. You aren't rushing things, and you're keeping my interest. This is one of the few times I've gotten this far into a story and not had a single plot point make me say "oh, please." So in short, great characterization, great plot--great everything. I'm looking forawrd to reading the rest of this. :)

bitey goodness! you are awesome! and what a terrific ending! not to the story, just the chapter!

This continues to interest and fascinate. You are building a nice relationship between Spike and Buffy as well as sympathetic characterizations of Dawn and Tara. The scene in the playground with Willow worked very well in showing her powers and frame of mind. Looking forward to more!