Ugh, you just ROCK! Awesome, awesome, awesome... SUCH a well written chapter. Loved the food analogy that Willow gave and the great talk that Buffy had with Gunn. Perfect ending... thought it did leave me wanting more more more!!

Author's Response: Giggles, I'm so happy you enjoyed the chappy. Willow can be so funny with her little insightful analogies... Beasleysmom came up with the idea, I just had to write it, hee hee. Thanks for the awesome review sweets, hugs you tight.

LOL!!! "I wonder what's eating her" LOL!!! That one really got me!! Well, it seems the light bulb has finally turned on in Spike's head!!!! Does that mean there might be some William on the horizon? Snarky Spike or William...I love all parts of Spike! And all of Spike's parts, too!! Great update!!

Author's Response: Hee hee, I'm a bit twisted when it comes to my sense of humor. As for William vs Spike, I think it's safe to say he'll always be very Spike-like, but there will most defintely be soft and tender moments, even for a bad boy. Thanks so much for the review honey, I'm happy you enjoyed the chappy. Huggles.

Aww, this was nice-- I love Gunn. :) "But-but, I-I said no!" made me laugh my ass off. :) Glad I got to read this before setting out on the homework marathon that I have this weekend. Update soon, loving this fic!

Author's Response: Hee hee, yeah Buffy is a bit befuddled. Good to see I didn't interrupt your homework. It seems I've been doing that lately to a few people, bad muse, bad, lol. I'm so glad you enjoyed the chappy and Gunn - he's so much fun to write. Thanks for the wonderful review darling. Smoochies to you.

lol this chapter got alot of chuckles from me, thank you for making me laugh :] im glad that he put his pride aside and that he actually had the will to do it, im impressed,.now hopefully she wont be as dense. gotta love the friends advice update soon sweetheart

Author's Response: YAY, I love to hear that I made you laugh, it's my fav part about this fic is the comedic factor and keeping it light even in the serious moments. Yup, Spike is setting aside his pride and going for the girl, not taking no for an answer. I think you'll enjoy the dinner scene, or at least I hope so. Thanks for the awesome review hon, huggles.

He's leaving? For SIX weeks? There are good things and bad things that could come of that. Good? He'd get minorly hurt and Buffy would have to take care of him. Bad? Well... he could get not so minorly hurt. I can't wait to find out which one it is, although I'm definately hoping it's the good one! Lol.

Author's Response: Oh yes, good things to come from that, I promise, but not of the injury sort, *winks*. I'm so happy you liked the chappy darling, thanks so much for the great review. Hugs.

Another brilliant chapter hun. I really hope this is a turning point. I wonder where he is going to take her?
Cant wait for an update.

Author's Response: Yes, we're at a turning point here and the next chapter will be transitional on that road towards spuffy. I do hope you enjoy the next posting once it's ready. Thanks for the awesome review darling.

I went searching for this story last night when this site was down. I was on the hunt~ I was craving, and here, today, a new chapter!!! Woo-hoo!!!!! I'm a grown woman with a family of my own, and I'm practically giggling and creaming like a school girl... Well, the oh-so drool-worthy banner helps, but... I guess I love that broken, puppy-dog, tenacity that you depict in this version of Spike that I love so much. Interesting to see how very hard-headed they both are, but I love Spike's true show of strength when he levels with Buffy and tells her he needs her. Nothing stronger than showing emotional vulnerability. Wish he could have written down some of his thoughts and shared it with Buffy. Seems women crave that communication, that inner-workings stuff that men rarely share. I am not sure about Spike not taking "no" for an answer when it comes to going out to dinner. Wish they could have had some casual conversations that didn't dissolve into arguments or f*ck-fests, but.... I hope he pours his heart out to her and explains why he is so driven to go after her. If he explains all of his internal motivation for a variety of things, like why he made her eat that nasty boot-camp diet, why he "picked" on her, why he said what he did when Angel cheated on her, then hopefully the "aha- eureeka" light will come on in Buffy's head. If she sees his intentions, then hopefully she will quit assigning him wrong motivations.

I know you and your family were in the military, and it's a very well-respected career. it is *so* not me, so to say I love this story anyway is HUGE. I actually didn't start reading this one right away because it was centered around the military, but I was so very glad when I changed my tune. I can't wait for more!!! I know you write lengthy chapters, and they are fabulous, but I hope you muse kicks into overdrive, because I can't barely stand to wait!! Must fast-forward....

Author's Response: I wasn't aware the site was down but of course I know they have to do maintenance every once in awhile. Giggles, you're like me, a grown woman with a family, but I get the giggle-fits when I see something posted I'm following. I'm so thrilled you're enjoying IAN this much, makes me smile wide sweety. Ah yes, the banner is definetely a heart stopper - gotta love kitty's work. Funny you should say broken puupy, and you'll know why next chappy, *winks*. Spike can be, has been, a big jerk, but you're right, he's not afraid to admit it. Their time for the serious talk will indeed happen, though not when you think... I have a small plan for them first before that can take place. Awww, thank you sweety for the compliment. It's not an easy life I live, but of course it's necessary and I accept it. I'm so glad you're able to get into this fic despite it's setting. I realize it's out of the ordinary from normal spuffy material, but I do enjoy taking the road less traveled. I'm very happy you like the length of the chapters, it seems to me that because of the time-skipping nature of the story, it just suits it instead of cutting things off every scene or two. I'll be hard at work here on the next chapter and hope to post soon. Thank you so very much for this review, you really blew me away and made my week sweety. Hugs you tight.

Mmmh, this is definitely the best chapter so far - and you know how much I've loved all the previous ones :D
I'm so totally amazed at how alive the characters become in your chapters, and not just in this story. I can so easily picture Spike and Buffy saying and doing the things you describe! And that's not something that's easy to accomplish in fanfiction, but you probably already know that :)
I'm as always looking forward to the next chapter eagerly!
Hugs and kisses, sweetheart!

Author's Response: Really? Wow, thank you sweety. It was time for a turning point for sure. That's awesome you're enjoying the characters and can see them in your mind. I do try very hard to get certain visuals across so it's nice to know I've accomplished it. I never really know whether I do or not, so I'm so happy you told me. Thank you so very much sweety, you've made my day. Hugs you tight.

Turning point you reckon? More like a complete 180! In fact this chapter contained the most honest moment between them yet. Very encouraging start to something new perhaps. I just wonder if Buffy will be able to get past all the unpleasant history between them - what with her limited experience with men. I mean PLEASE - her sole boyfriend cheating on her with a relative does not an optimistic outlook make and Spike's yet to provide her with any more satisfying *blushes at the implication* memories. Bring on dinner I say. Oooohhhhh yeah - grub's up!

Author's Response: Giggles, it had to happen sometime before Spike really made a mess of things. It's time for them to get honest as well as see the other in the way that needs to be. I think dinner will prove interesting in encouraging the couple along their path. I do hope you like it when the chappy is finally ready for posting. Thank you for the review sweety. Smooches.

Where do I even begin, LOL! I LOVED all the yummy innuendoes in this chappie, and is it just me or is everyone hungry, LMAO!!! I will never be able to have a meal without thinkin' about sex ;)

Hun, you are absolutely amazin' and I'm soooo lookin' forward to the next installment, Kuddos to ya!

SMOOCHES!
ANG

Author's Response: Giggles, you and me are twisted sisters, that's for sure. Thanks to you, everyone loved the meal analogy - very Willow-like, bravo girl. Thanks for the help and the review girl, luv ya.

Yay another update, I really needed this new chapter, so thanks for posting a new one so quickly!
Hmm, so new turning point for Spuffy, I can't wait to see when Buffy is gonna give in and accept Spike as her... boyfriend (for lack of a better word).
You know, I talked about your fic at work the other day. My days are really busy but I take break once in a while and I was reading In the Army Now on my pc and my colleague asked me what I was reading so I showed her the summary and ste started to read the whole thing... two hours later, her work hadn't been done but she had read your fic and was going to start TE this weekend.
Anyway, GREAT JOB on this new chapter, I'm reallyt excited by this new "aspect" of their interaction and I can't wait to see about their date.

AND whay do you mean, he'll be gone for six WEEKS??? Are you kidding me ?? FIX IT ASAP!!!!!! :))

Author's Response: OMG, you actually got a co-worker to read this, WOW. How cool is that? I mean I hope they enjoyed it, I'm flabbergasted, thank you sweety. I take it they like btvs? Oh yes, we hit the turning point of personal thinking on our couple's behalf and next chapter will be a transitional one for sure. As for the 6 weeks, well, it will fly by for the reader, but you know what they say... absence makes the heart grow fonder. I do so hope you enjoy the next chapter once it's ready. Thank you so much for the awesome review and for recommending it to your co-worker. Hugs you tight.

And again I'm being a bad, bad reader for not reviewing all I read! I think I'm in need of a good spanking...would your muse be available for the job? *wink*...
So I'm totally feeling for this enlightened version of Spike... he was being such a jerk before (though I have to admit, that he was a HOT jerk, and the humor that came from the encounters was fantastic...), but now I just want to cuddle him! I can already imagine how he's going to be a perfect date for the dinner and then Buffy is left simmering in her confusion for 6 weeks while Spike is gone * giggles in delight*... I know that Spike has a lot to do in effort of changing Buffy's opinion about him, but I'm so glad that there are people around her who can shed some more light on the real person behind the cocky and crude demeanor of Spike and help to nudge them closer together... I can't really see how they could ever end up having any kind of relationship without the friends helping them, so it's good that they are there :)
I'm so loving this story and can't wait for more...And what comes to getting new chapters of TE all I have to say is: YES PLEASE!!!
Smooches to you and tell your muse that if he's up to the spanking, I'll be waiting with my own set of handcuffs...and if he's a good... umm, I mean if he's a bad little muse, I might return the favor *naughty smirk*...
-Katriina-



Author's Response: Giggles, yup, my muse gives you a cyber spanking. Glad to see you can understand and feel a bit sorry for Spike. It is hard not to like a 'hot' jerk, bad boys are just plain hard to resist. It definetely has to take their friends gentle nudges in order to get them together, because they're too stubborn and pig headed to do it on their own. As for TE, I'm just trying to make some decisions about this next chappy and of course find some time to write it. I've been so super busy these days it's hard to focus on more than one story. Oooh, my muse just got excited, handcuffs? Bondage is good for the soul, *giggles*. Thanks for the wonderful review my friend. Hugs you tight.

Great chapter with a capital 'G'!!!

Author's Response: Thank you darling, kisses.