I mean, I don't really get this chapter. I don't buy that the council would ever support Buffy. Giles is constantly saying how disappointed he is in her, It's making him feel manipulative rather than caring.

I get why Buffy would react like she did to the photos, anyone would. That was the part that made sense.

I think I am done here however, This story is well written but there is too little hope or fun to keep me going with this piece. It is simply bad, after bad, after bad.

Actions of a sane person... perhaps not Spike but someone known to be with Spike. I do hope she knows him. Still gotta give Giles a bit more credit than the others. And that bit... how William first met her ...

"I could take away that look." How very touching. How she needs to beleive him... Great chapter. Please, update soon.

Author's Response: Giles thought he was doing what was best for Buffy, but what he didn't take into account is that Buffy is an adult and capable of making the decision of what is best for her without his guidance. I think it will take a while for her to get that across to him. Thanks for the review. :-D

You know, I love Giles, I do. But....it's so hard to even 'like' him, when he's pitted against Spike like this. Same as in season 7 of Buffy with the whole Principle Wood thing. There's all this...so called, logic, on why Spike & Buffy shouldn't be together. But, people forget love defies all 'logic'.

LOVE this chapter, as I do them all. Please update ASAP!!

Author's Response: The thing about Giles is that he genuinely believes he is doing the right thing ... that he is working in her best interests. He doesn't realize that Buffy is now an adult and capable of making her own decisions. He also refuses to take into account the extinuating circumstances. To him, Spike is nothing but a monster; he refuses to see the man lurking underneath. But you're right ... all of this doesn't make it easy to like him. Thanks for the review. :-D

Is it possible to have fandom chest pain? Cause I'm feeling for everyone at this point for everyone is gonna have a hard time after this I wil keep up the daith and Spuffy love!

Author's Response: Yep, just keep the faith. This story is listed as angst and romance ... but I'm a romantic at heart. Just keep that in mind. Thanks for the review. :-D

I love the unexpected William starting and just how much he wanted to help change Elizabeth's life for no ulterior motives I and hanging by a thread till you put up more


Author's Response: Yes,Spike is still very much the same person inside, it's just that he has so many experiences behind him -- both the terrible things he's done and the terrible things done *to* him, that he is no longer an innocent and not so willing to expose his vulnerability. I think that is what is hardest for Buffy to get past. Once she does look past that -- once she accepts and forgives his past actions -- they will truly be able to move forward. Thanks so much for the review. :-D

Spike did snap for a while he lost everything from his life to his mother and then the love of his life. He woke up to Drusilla and a blood lust and the loss of humanity so yeah he went a little nuts and took it out on the people who he felt had done him and his love for Elizabeth wrong with the slandering of her good name. When you have lost everything you held dear including your soulmate and all you have left is your hate what would keep you from lashing out and exercising it to the point of a certain kind of insanity? I'm not trying to rationalize it just saying in his killing it was almost in a way he was trying to cut the pain out of himself as twisted as that seems.
I have no idea what can mend this or if there is forgiveness or atonement for Spike but I wanna hope for him in this story and for Buffy too that they can still come together again. As for the others I still want Willow to notice the way she has been behaving is a little childish even given her age in this but maybe Tara can be the eye opener for both of them and some kinda resolution can happen there. I miss Anya she was always so good at speaking the truth and making people uncomfortable when faced with their realities.
This was a great update and it really makes you think things over which really goes to show your gift as a author.

Question?

For a long time, our books held little information about Spike’s early years, and while they were searching for information for me, the Council discovered that it was because no one—not even the Watchers—knew that he was a vampire. Not until just before he left London, and, after that, he dropped out of sight for several years. We knew about the fixation with young blonde women, of course, but—”

Is this when he was Slayer hunting or did he disappear for a whole other reason or did he realize what he was doing? I'm interested in this missing time unless he was with Dru and this was when her illness took effect.

This was really cool and it sort of knoecked a lot of ducks out of the water I really can't wait to read more.

=)


Author's Response: That was when he was out slayer hunting. He was moving around so much, the Council had a hard time keeping track of him throughout those years. Thanks for the review! :-D

Giles is annoying but he is right these victims were people and they were lives taken and slaughtered for whatever their rudeness or crimes or just the unlikely hood of being born resembling Elizabeth.
So often you do get caught up in the romance of the story and that you do side step the actual horrors of Williams pain and Spikes past and want to sweep it under the rug because of his love for the slayer. So if Buffy is making the choice to love Spike now for the man he used to be then she too has to face then man/creature he had become. It's not pretty and it's not warm and fuzzy to face the victims of his past and I doubt highly if Spike himself saw this file he'd be able to stomach it himself for he just did these things and never looked back. I read this chap. and then went back to re-read the Spike years to remember just how vile and disgusting some of his actions were. And how Angelus was disappointed in him for his lack of creativity in his killings so to be fair Angelus was no model student of vampire-hood lol if vampire-hood is even a word for Giles to bring up as a reference for good. This is a huge plot twist to take on because it's gonna force all the ugliness of Spikes life to surface and he's gonna have to face it head on and somehow be able to look Buffy in the eye. It's gonna test both Buffy and Spike to the extremes if they even have a chance at any kinda relationship at all.
Ok I have to run now for work but I had to leave a review and somehow work today and not think about this all day lol.


Author's Response: Exactly! And I think that is part of Buffy's problem. Once she came to terms with the fact that Spike *is* William, she went into denial about all he had done. She won't truly be able to have a relationship with him until she is capable of accepting his past crimes and forgiving him for them. Naturally, it won't be easy but until she does it, they won't be able to move forward. Thanks so much for the review. :-D

Ok wow. I work third shift and I just spent like 3 days reading this whole thing. It has been a freaking rollercoaster. I love it!! There are so many things I could say, but unfortunately the last few chapters have over ridden anything I can come up with for all the previous chapters. I am so freakin peeved at Willow, and even more peeved and disappointed in Tara. That was one thing that got me even on the show. Why were they living in her house for all that time and neither of them even bothered to get a job and help pay for things they were using?! What kind of person does that??!!! What kind of person thinks it is ok to use up all of someone else's money to support their needs? A part of them had to think Buffy was never coming back, so did any part of them ever think "hey, this money was Joyce's, then Buffy's, so maybe we should save it and have it be Dawn's when she is older?" No! Selfish bitches! They had no right to that money. Ever! They should have been adults and gotten off their lazy asses and taken some responsibility themselves. Now they are all self righteous and expecting Buffy to do exactly what they never did? Screw them. Sorry, but I am so mad. Like I said, even in the show that always made me pissy. Your fic rocks though! I know that Buffy isn't going to react well to this new development, that is just how things are. I mean, without the knowledge we have from reading his side of things, put into that position I think we all would react in a bad way too. I just hope he can show her he is still capable of being who she fell in love with. I also hope she grows a spine and tells everyone to go to hell. I dunno how anyone can defend her 'friends' and say they mean well. That's bull. My friends would never presume to do half the shit her friends have done. When you love someone you want them to be happy and you try to do everything in your power to help them be so and to help make their lives better. I thought it when the show was on, and I think it in almost every fic I read... her friends are nothing but selfish idiots. Uh, so, now that I have ranted a ton... lol. Have I mentioned your fic rocks? lol. I can't wait to see where you take us next.

Author's Response: lol. Yeah, my fic should probably come with an airsick bag, huh? But it's a good kind of up-and-down, I hope. I agree with everything you've said about the Scoobies. I'm sure they had the best of intentions in mind (both in canon and my fic) for emptying out the bank account. But you know what they say the road to hell is paved with ... Thanks for the review. :-D

The good the bad and the ugly truth I'm crossing my fingers for I don't have a clue to gues what will come next
Great job!

Author's Response: I love, love, love keeping you guys guessing. Whenever you tell me that, I feel like I've done my job as a writer. Thank you!

Spikes anger at least with Buffys friends is consistent to the shoddy way the are all treating her but I'm concerned this job could either be a trap or worse. Given Spikes history on not making the best choices I am at least hoping some kinda good results come of this. Giles kinda made me throw up in my mouth -sorry but true- he has like sunk to a new level on this one -yes the fatherly concern- -yes he is her watcher- -yes Spike has a past- but still........low. I am looking forward to the next Fttp chapter




Author's Response: Giles' behavior is a real example of doing the wrong thing for the right reason. He loves Buffy and he wants to protect her, but he refuses to acknowledge that she is an adult and capable of making her own decisions. He is also refusing to accept (or even consider) that Spike might be willing and able to change. Thanks so much for the review! :-D

(I’m going to take care of her.) btw best line ever in describing how William truly felt the best for her. Reading this was like the best and worst thing at the same time
1. Best story ever
2. You know troubles heading to break-up way.


Author's Response: You are so incredibly sweet and supportive. Thank you! I'm especially happy to know that you feel William was summed up in that line. That is how I felt, too. Giles accused him of taking Buffy in because he was lonely and saw a pretty girl he could make his companion. In reality, he saw a broken girl he wanted to help. It showed a selflessness that Spike still possesses today, although few but Buffy ever see it.

Maybe those arent the actions of a sane person but then again this is a guy turned into a vamoire with a death wish and no hope so he went after and killed the man who hurt his Elizabeth and then when he lost everything else he killed girls who could never be the one girl he loved and lost. Im not saying what he did was right it was a really sick thing Im just saying for every action there is a reaction. Im still hoping for their love to find a happy ending!

Author's Response: I agree. What William/Spike did was completely wrong ... but it was also completely understandable. He had lost everything, most especially the lover he had become so obsessively devoted to. He was angry and he possessed a vampire's natural blood lust. In his situation, would we have acted differently? Buffy has a lot to think about in that regard. Thanks so much for the review. :-D