What's throwing me with the direction of this story is that Angelus and Spike are both acting to type but Buffy just seems to be acquiesing to the manipulation and..... manipulation, with the Slayer part of her somehow out to lunch. I know she is very young, very new to all this - but she goes to their stronghold, it is swarming with vamps, Angelus is so very un-Angel like and ultimately, her man has just given her to another vamp, like a piece of meat. Where is the spark of righteous indignation, where is the mixed-up, uppity - but still very driven and clued-in girl of that time? Angelus may well press her buttons, he may have won her over in her desperate relief to salvage some emotional excuse after that dreaded first night together, but the stark difference in behaviour and responses between the two vamps, although both soulless, must nudge that sleeping brain of hers to wake up and smell the slayer coffee.

Author's Response: Yes, she is starting to get a clue, and now has some direction based on something that Spike said. She's not exactly right about what is happening, but she is not far wrong either. As for her mood, it will eventually change, but I think the timing and her depression after the ghost possession had a lot to do with it. Things will get more out of her control before they get better - but she is starting to fight it in the next chapter (soon). Thing is, she needs some help/support from her friends and up till now has been afraid to ask for it.

Poor Spike, the indignity of being ridiculed by the man who took his love and then throws crumbs his way and then gets all angry because of his own short-comings. Hope that Buffy finds out the reason he wanted her to bed Spike and gets out of her daze of denial. Good chapter, can't wait to see what happens next.

Author's Response: Spike is not feeling too charitable to Angelus about now - hence the desire to team with Buffy (or not) and dust the idiot. This would probably play out very differently if Spike weren't injured. I think Angelus over estimates his control over Spike and Spike's loyalty to him.

So Angelus is jealous now. His own fault. Though I'm glad he sent Buffy to Spike. If you're not happy that the chit actually liked it, well, that's not my fault. Oh, wait, that's not right. It is my fault that she enjoyed it. And now he (Angelus) can't blame Spike because he ordered him to. Though I think he'll try to blame/punish him. And Spike is still willing to help. As soon as he could, things were going to change. I'm looking forward to!

Author's Response: Both Angelus and Spike have their own agendas. Spike of course wants to heal and become his own man again. After 100 years, he's gotten used to being in charge. As for what Angelus wants, we'll see eventually. But it's not what you may think, and he's not as stupid as he looks. Though he's bitching about it, he got pretty much exactly what he wanted.