Oh crap! He is a tortured soul, isn't he! Something about that just breaks my heart. Don't quite understand why but my immediate response was cry for him. Don't know what you were going for but tears is the only response I have to give.Great read, Cas.

Author's Response: Yeah, don't know why, but he just grew that way in the telling. I mean yes, he was always intended to be broken hearted, but I'm afraid that he came off a little too weird and less tortured than I intended. As usual though, you got what I meant.

Go Spike! kick those skanks to the curb! I'm hoping the locked room was either Dru's or it's his studio, you called it his inner sanctum. Sounds like his painting studio. Still on pins and needles here. Great work, thanks again.

Author's Response: Yes, exactly.

Very curious about that, I hope it comes out at some point. Didn't they know what he was working on. Ethan Rayen's? This mystery justs keeps getting bigger and bigger. Somehow I've got the feeling that Angelus is up to something since he's still keeping some kind of tabs on him. Another great chapter, thanks.

Author's Response: Don't you like to know how your family is doing? Nothing sinister about that at all. And yeah, I think a little too much is what is going on which is why pulling it all together is getting harder and harder - too many balls in the air that need to drop at the right time.

What little pervs they are. Spike catches them trying to sell his private tapes and they'd be in a whirl of shit. I had forgotten that he painted. this should be interesting. Glad they had a nice day. Thanks for the wonderful chapter.

Author's Response: Well, when you're not getting any, and have no realistic hope of that changing any time soon... Yeah, they're pervs.

I was hoping for both Buffy and Xander that it wsn't the case. Anya's been screwing Spike and Buffy's not gotten more then a kiss from him. Talk about awkward. Yipes! Good for you, that was great. Great read, thanks.

Author's Response: Well, that's not exactly how she looks at it. I mean, Buffy never wanted more than a kiss or two - or Spike would have been more than willing to oblige. And the whole Spanya thing is in the past - a few years have gone by at least.

Wow, I didn't see that one coming,Tara huh? I'm guessing with Oz gone she and Willow will be getting together at some point. Time will tell. I do hope that Buffy will see Tara though. Angelus really did a number on her. It's late and I think I'll read one or two more. Great chappie, thanks. *hugs*

Author's Response: Yeah, Angelus sews distruction wherever he goes. And I'll try to work the Willow/Tara connection in, altho I'm trying not to spend too much time on secondary plot lines to get this thing going.

He didn't know about them but I'm sure that Angel had set her up as a target because of Spike's relationship with Joyce. It's so him. Wonderful chapter, now she knows how he feel's. Thanks for the read.

Author's Response: Well, from Angel's point of view, why not? I mean, if you're gonna pick on an innocent little HS girl to torment her, why not put your effort to where it is likely to do the most damage? I mean. it's not like young Buffy was hard on the eyes - altho Cordelia also would have done nicely.

Hope that Buffy sees things his way. Your right about what the gang may do if they knew their identity. Maybe this will continue to push down her defences. Thank you for letting me know this was here. Can't wait to see which side of the fence he really is on. I'm betting it's the same as hers. Great chapter, Cas, thanks.

Author's Response: That is the main crux of the story - is Spike a good man, or not? Of couse either way, he still has a lot of enemies... but will Buffy be one of them?

It's been a while please update soon.

Author's Response: Thanks for leaving a review after all this time. I have not abandoned this fic, I just find it hard to work on more than one at a time (who knew?) Anyway it is on my mind, and it is nice to know people are interested. I hope when I start posting again (as soon as I finish posting Ring) that I will go back to this and update it regularly - which I agree, its frustrating when writers don't, so I'm gonna try not to do it to you again.

I'm having a bit of difficulty beleving Buffy to be so clueless about all of this and it doesn't seem to be just something she's playng off of Spike. Even if she's never been undercover, she'd be more savvy about all this than she is here, even getting Spike's intentions. Her intelligence is sincerely being played down.

Author's Response: Hey Albie. Glad to know that someone is still reading/responding although I haven't updated this story in a while. I hate to admit but it's been a while since I've worked on this one, so I am not sure how to respond. I mean to portray Buffy as naive and undertrained (which is Giles's fault - but turns out he's naive too all things considered). Anyway, anyway, you've single handedly insipired me to go back and take another look and get some work done on this story. So Thanks.

great chapter

liked the chapter . interesting twist.

Author's Response: Thanks, appreciate the review teasha. Pretty name btw, don't think I've seen it before.

Oh, the plot thickens. Sure never expected to see Riley make an appearance. Blech. What will Buffy do now? Hmmmmm. Very good update.

Author's Response: Rest assured, I am not a Riley fan either. But he will cause more trouble, since Buffy/Spike is not on his agenda.