" She motioned to the staircase. “Shall we take our rest, then?”

He nodded and dropped his pillowcase to the floor. Together they walked up the staircase. He suffered her hand on his arm as they ascended. In a way, he even liked the feeling. At least it was physical contact of some sort, with someone. But when she reached for the knob of the nearest door—Elizabeth’s door—he flung her off angrily.

“Not that room!”


This was the best part of this for me in how even in death William is still protective of Elizabeth and does not want her this disturbed.

This is just so great I love your William.


Author's Response: I'm glad to hear it. :) One thing that surprise me about a couple of reviewers was that they seemed to miss the fact that William *does* still love Elizabeth(Buffy). His heart belongs to her, and vampirism and Drusilla have not changed that. I'm happy to hear that you do understand that, and that the scene mentioned touched you. That is exactly what it was meant to do, so thanks so much for letting me know it succeeded. :)

Poor Anne and then poor William in having to kill what was the last relationship he though he could salvage. I was glad he let Matthew live and run for his life I always liked Matthew and was pulling for the guy. I think its neat that you stick with the Joss story time line but you give the whole more personal side in becoming a vampire and how parts of his self will always be with him. Very cool story I can't say enough about it.

Author's Response: One thing I always wished Joss had addressed was William's transition into a vampire. They briefly touched on it in FFL, LMPTM, and Destiny. I understand they couldn't let a supporting charater completely overshadow the main ones, but a Spike movie would have been nice to clear things up. In my fic, I'm endeavoring to offer my readers moments they weren't privvy to in the Buffyverse. I'm very glad to hear that you are enjoying it. Thank you for the review.

I LOVE THIS IN HOW YOU MANAGE TO GIVE SPIKE A WHOLE NEW LEVEL AND DYNAMIC TO HIS PERSONALITY IN HIS KEEPING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH ELIZABETH STILL PURE FROM THE SHADOW THAT HIS OWN LIFE HAS TAKEN WITH HIM NOT LETTING DRU SOIL THE PLACES AND HIS LOVE FOR ELIZABETH. SO WELL WRITTEN AND WELL DONE PLEASE ADD MORE WHEN YOU CAN.


Author's Response: Thank you for taking the time to review this, Bel Canto. Everything you have said perfectly mirrors my intent, and that's great to know. I want my readers to understand the double entendres without pointing them out, and the readers on this site are incredibly quick to notice them. Thanks, as always, for your review.

This story stays with me long after I read it, and I find myself thinking about it throughout the day. So imagine my delight on waking up this Sunday morning to see that you posted two chapters this week.

I don't even know where to begin. Reading William, tormented over Elizabeth's "death," and developing into Spike is just so exquisitely done. I also like that you didn't show the scene where William kills his mother...as you mentioned, we already know what happened. I for one, was thrilled to see that you included him meeting Angelus. I was waiting for him to arrive, and I can't wait to see Darla as well.

And the way you described William's relationship with Angelus? Perfect.

You really have a gift of a professional writer. I feel every emotion that William is feeling, and reading the details of his turning and how he's being taught by Angelus, and the impact it's having on him...well, you couldn't have done it better.

I loved sweet, innocent William. But, I love Spike more :) So reading his transition is making this story so much more real for me.

Thank you so much for sharing with us what you created.




Author's Response: What a wonderful, thoughtful review, Dee81. I'm glad you appreciate the way I handled the scene between William and his mother, as well as Angelus' first meeting with William. I've always been so intrigued by their love/hate relationship that I want to fully explore it in this fic. I'm happy to hear that the story stays with you even when you aren't reading it. That, to me, is wonderful praise. Thank you. :)

I just read some of the reviews before I reviewed myself, not because I didn´t know what to say, but because it´s very interesting to see how people react to dark things. He, he.

Just let me tell you, to begin with. that this chapter was great. I just love your portrait of William as a fledging. Very believable. I was somehow glad you didn´t write about William killing his mother after she became a vampire herself, because that was very disturbing when it was shown on the TV show.
So thank you for sparing us for that.

Now to my comments on some of the reviews you have gotten: The one who ask´s you if you were Joss Whedon, well I couldn´t agree more with her.:-)) Joss ones said that he didn´t give his viewers what they wanted, but what they needed. I think this is what you are doing in this story.
So for the ones who are scandalized with this William, as a fledging... well I couldn´t agree with you more:
There wouldn´t be redemption if he hadn´t done anything wrong... and we wouldn´t have loved Spike, as much as many of us do, If we hadn´t seen him as a badass in the beginning thinking of thousands of ways of killing the slayer... but being at the same time so nice to Drusilla and to Joyce.
As for his relation with Drusilla, and his starting affection for her and need for Angelus, also very believable. Even though, Angelus "kindness" is way kreepy. Uff. But psychopaths are usually like that, charming and nice....so when you less espect them.... I get the chills just thinking about it.

Ok I Stop now. I got carried away. Keep the good work, and Please update soon.!!!!

Author's Response: I felt that showing the scene between William and his mother would be not only redundant (most of us know what happened) but also, in a way, disrespectful. Since we all do know what happened, I just didn't want to intrude on that moment, nor reach inside his head while he was experiencing it. You're right; it would have been disturbing, and even moreso than on the show, because we would have seen absolutely everything going on in William's mind at that point; we would have felt everything he was feeling. I doubt I could have stomached it, let alone the readers. :) Thanks for such a wonderful, insightful review. I really appreciate it!

Yay! Such a quick update. Thank you!

I love how you weave cannon scenes from Buffy and Angel into the reality of this story. While on the surface the events don't seem that much different from what we know happened to Spike who had never had Elizabeth in his life, the subtle exploration of his emotions and motivation is wonderful and shows us the impact that Buffy has made on his life.

It's heartwrenching to see William's need and desire for love and affection in a world where he has lost everyone he had ever loved. Even sadder to remember (if you intend to follow the cannon here) that the two people he is starting to care about and depend on here, will soon remind William that "there is no belonging" and that "nothing is his" in this new life. Sigh.

Anyway. Just wanted to tell you that I'm loving this story. Hope you update soon again!

Author's Response: I loved reading your review, Anna. It's great to know that someone has read your story, liked your story, and--most important of all--*understood* your story. You have a perfect grasp on William and on everything I'm trying to convey about him. Thank you for taking the time to leave such detailed feedback. :)

Poor William, and his mum. Sigh, but what Dru said, yeah I get it.

Author's Response: I'm glad. Thank you. :)

The description of the bloodshed in William's home before he turned his mother made the turning even more awful. William had gutted that home, and the aftermath of Anne's turning was more grim for it. I loved the detail in Angelus' training session and William's visceral connection with Drusilla and Angelus.

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

It was sad watching him pack the things most important to him in what he wanted to take along with him of his old life. I lost track of this for a while but was happy to pick up where I was and catch up this is a fantastic story and I loe to see more pages of it. To be on the safe side I saved this so I won't lose it again.

Author's Response: Well, I'm certainly glad that you found the story again, and that you like it. Thanks for taking the time to tell me so. :)

This is starting to get really dark and I like it. I was shocked he let the horse guy live. Angel being all friendly is kinda creepy too cause I just do not trust him at all. If people read the reviews for this then I say read this before all other ones here this is the best telling of Spike.

Author's Response: Yes, I'm afraid some people might be frightened off by the darkness. However, I did try to warn everyone in Chapter 28 that this was how it's going to play. I'm glad that you're enjoying the darker tone, and I hope that you continue to do so. Thanks for reviewing!

Really a siper story and I think you do a great job with sticking to the nature of the main people in the story here with the only emotions new Spike seems t et himself have is over when ever he thinks of Buffy and like no other time. I really enjoyed coming across this story tonight its the best thing I have read in a long time.

Author's Response: Thanks so much! I'm really flattered that you feel that way.

Loving this hope you continue with this story it is one of my new favs.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you feel that way. Thank you for taking the time to tell me so. :)