It seems like I have been waiting for this chapter forever and the wait was worth it. I loved reading Buffy's thoughts about Spike. I loved your line, "It wasn't an absolution he was seeking, it was her love."
This was true in the series and it is true in your wonderful story. Spike's love and desire for love from Buffy made him into the person he became. I wish that Josh and the writer's on the show actually cared about their relationship. Hopefully, the secret won't last too long and I hope Spike tells Willow, Tara and Giles off about their request that she needs a job. I always thought it was unfair that Buffy had to shoulder all of the burden for maintaining that household.

Author's Response: I know I've been slow in updating lately. I'm so sorry about that! I hope you didn't get tired of waiting and that you'll enjoy the new chapter. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. :-)

Lovely!!!!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! :-D

That is always something I wondered about in the show. Why did BUFFY have to get a job? It would be all but impossible to hold down a job and still deal with slaying. Things dont happen just at night in Sunnydale. Why couldn't Willow and Tara get jobs after classes? Most college students do it.... the freeloaders.

Great chapter. I'm really loving this story and looking forward to more. Please post soon.

Author's Response: It always irritated me as well. Of course, most of the things the Scoobies did irritated me after season five. It seems like after Buffy returned from the dead, they all became controlling, freeloading deadbeats. In my story, they're really no different ... but that doesn't mean Buffy will be content to remain a doormat forever. Unlike her canon self. I'm very happy to hear that you liked the chapter. Thank you so much for taking the time to review it. :-)

oH MY GAWD. i love it. i love this chapter, i love this story.. and i love you! Grr. I have been readign this story forever sne you NEVER fail to bring a tear to my eye. I can twait for an update. please dont leav eus all waiting to long :)

Author's Response: Thank you for following the story! It's always so nice to hear when someone is tearing up over a scene; it really makes me feel as if I have put realism into the story and characters. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. :-D

always befuddled me.. even on the show.

The only girl in the world..saving its arse everytime you turn around and the English pompas jerks in their suits would not give her money after her mother died.. or money period.

And how Willow and Tara didn't work or hardly lift a finger.. Buffy has to work !! Tell them to get out of your
house and find a place of their own..

Enjoyed. yeah.. Spike is right.. Her dirty little secret is obvious as hell to Dawn and everyone else. Spike is right..

Author's Response: That always drove me crazy as well. I loved the Scoobies through season five, but after that they all seemed to morph into selfish, whining, freeloading brats. They aren't much different in my story, but that isn't to say Buffy will be content to put up with it indefinitely. Thanks for the review. :-)

Even with the secretiveness, it's nice to see Buffy can be kind to Spike the morning after.

Pretty harsh assessment he gave her, and yet... it rings true. Not that she couldn't think for herself, but she's not sure she can. It's easy to see how a Slayer, who has all these people she has to take care of, including a dependent sister, would jump at the chance to be taken care of. And not just taken care of, but relieved of responsibility. In Sunnydale, sometimes the whole world depends on her performance of her duty; on a daily basis, lives depend on it, including her own. Makes sense her London sojourn would have a deep appeal.

I'm not quite sure how the approval of her friends has anything like the same effect; and anyway, she hasn't been doing a whole lot to cultivate their approval, since they've all been prigs to her. But there the abandonment fear kicks in. So sad that she thinks she'll lose them if she makes them angry enough.

Far scarier -- and far more damning to them -- is that what she fears would make them angry wouldn't be any misdeed towards them, but simply living how she chooses in a way that hurts no one. I can see this playing out in canon, too, as when they kick her out of her own home... and she comes back and is all conciliatory and ingratiating, like she was the one with something to apologize for.

I hope your Buffy can outgrow that.

Author's Response: Yes, he certainly did not sugar coat things did he? I think he might have been more gentle had he not been so frustrated, but at least he's given her food for thought. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and thank you so much for taking the time to review it. :-D

oh buffy's friend suck!! i would have loved it if you had written the part of that conversation!!! and would have loved to know how buffy responded. yeah. THEY want her to get a job!! oh, i could go deep into this subject but i won't. no point. great job. loved it. more soon.

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed it in spite of the Scoobie gang's irritating behavior. Thanks so much for taking the time to review. :-D