“The fact is…if Spike wants his soul back…if he’s actually trying to find a way to retrieve it…that pretty much says he doesn’t need it in the first place.”

Bingo, yeah Angel for hitting the nail on the head. Poor little girl so mixed up with the artificial claim and Giles being tragically off with his timing. Great chapter. Glad you're back and hope you keep feeling better.

I'm so glad you're back!
Even after 64 chapters, you keep surprising me! Strangely enough, I'm glad the claim thingy isn't real. I didn't feel it was necessary in this beautiful, unique story.
Anyway, now that Buffy has found out the truth, she will have to deal...
Thanks so much for coming back and stay away from horses!



Author's Response: Thank you! My goal is to keep readers guessing about the story until the very end, so it's wonderful to hear that I've been surprising you. I hope I can continue to do so. :)

Yay! I was missing this story. I liked rationalAngel, although I suspect realAngel wouldn't be so rational. LOL. Hope you feel better - I had a horse fall on me last year and was badly hurt, so I totally understand.

Author's Response: I'm sorry to hear you went through a similar injury with your horse, but I'm glad you're okay. Thanks so much for the review. :)

This is beautiful simply beautiful!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! :)

I think this was huge for Angel to actually come to Buffy and talk to her about Spike seeing how much back history and hate they have cant wait to see what comes next

Author's Response: I agree completely. Angel took his own step toward redemption by telling Buffy the truth. What she will do with that knowledge, however, remains to be seen. Thanks for the review. :)

About time Buffy starts to realize a few things and I am glad it is Angel is the one breaking threw a few of her ideas on right and wrong and how she herself played into a lot of Williams and Spikes very problems

Author's Response: I agree completely. And until Buffy is willing to accept her own portion of the blame, she doesn't stand a chance of forgiving Spike for his. Thanks for the review!

And there it is! That very last sentence:

The fact is…if Spike wants his soul back…if he’s actually trying to find a way to retrieve it…that pretty much says he doesn’t need it in the first place.”

the whole concept that Canon refused to see - hell, Buffy & Co. were bloody blind for at least two series ....... and it's true! The soul became the big excuse for blame, running away, hiding behind. I'm better than you because .........

Human nature. We all throw stones, but in the opposite direction to our own glass houses. Now, is Buffy going to take this time-bomb of info on board, or is she going to go back to her ostrich stance?

Will she accept that it is not the draw of a claim, but that other thing ..... l - l - lo- will she admit it, if only to herself. And Angel's reasoning about the soul? Can logic finally reach the Slayer's muddled parts?

Great to have you back. I do hope you're feeling a lot better and well on the mend. Best wishes to you.

Author's Response: That aspect of BtVS canon annoyed the heck out of me for the very reasons you mentioned. I think, in a way, this chapter was me working out my frustrations about that. lol. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you like the new chapter as well. :)

Awesome story!! Love it and can't wait for more. Really sorry to hear about your accident - hope you're on the mend and your head is okay.

Thanks for posting the story!!!

Author's Response: I'm feeling much better now. Thank you! ((hugs))

FINALLY SOMEONE THAT IS FUCKING SMART AND ISNT DELUDED ABOUT SPIKE BEING GOOD!!! i LOVE this story and am SOOOOO happy that u updated. i CANT believe that its angel that is finally making sense and that he understands that spike is really good, unlike buffy and giles, wat dumbass. spike has been trying to be better and they refused to see it and im glad that angel is actually talking some sense into them. i REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope that buffy listens and finally sees the truth in wat angel is saying about spike and that she sees that he doesnt need a soul to be good, that he already is. also i hope that she admits to herself that theyre meant to be together and finally gives into being with him and finds him. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE update as soon as u can, im DYING to read how buffy reacts to this news. THANX SOO MUCH!!

Author's Response: Thank you for the review. I hope you enjoy the new chapter as well. :)

yay another great chapter, this is one of my favourite stories and has been consistently good right from the start. more please

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm flattered you think so highly of my writing. :)

Great as usual. Doesn't sound forced to me at all. I wish I could write like you. Keep up the great work.

Glad to hear you are on the mend after your accident. I

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you don't think it sounded forced. I think my problem was that I fiddled with the chapter so long I stopped being able to gauge its quality. Luckily, that bout of writer's block seems to have ended. :)

Ooh, yay, and update!

I thought that it was a nice chapter, and although there was no Spike, it was still really good. I liked what Angel said about Spike in the end. He's so much more mature now. :) *happy dance* I wonder if Spike'll go ahead with his soul-mission.

Author's Response: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. :)