This was another vivid, emotional chapter. The image you painted of this broken woman, painfully pulling herself away from her attacker was brutal. Spike gentling her like and injured animal was beautiful, and I could feel her unclench like a fist and allow herself to trust him. Her few seconds of calm in that hospital bed, surrounded by the scent of roses and the feeling of being cared for, gives me hope that this woman has turned a corner.

I like the addition of Gunn in this and his remembering William adds another facet to the story. You added more intriguing back story with William just having disappeared years ago. Also intriguing is finding out Connor's mother is gone.

This was a fascinating emotional reveal: He could still be William in this time, still the shy, unassuming boy he sheltered with the punk persona. It was good to know that part of him still existed, some good and clean part of him. . . though it had been William who’d borne the pain.

Spike had been formed from the pain.

William had fled, shedding tears and skin, refusing to answer why he wanted away, and from the ashes of the burning pain, Spike had emerged.

And saved William. Of course the Spike suit is armor that protects the helpless victim William. This is all beautifully written.

Well. A story that gives us the horror, from the very start. No gentle descent, here. Just a big, black pit to fall into. And Niamh, your narrative is heart-rending and big, big, so big on effect, it seems to grasp the epicentre of mental anguish and splay it out before us. And the challenge is there: here it is, the oft-unspoken act of human behaviour that Spike cannot bring himself to reveal, Buffy also being a victim to it - and the treachery of all that stigma that makes them mute and hidden and ashamed.

Your first two chapters are mesmerizing.

Author's Response: I wanted to bring everyone into this, wanted everyone to feel their pain, to understand what's it like to have a fist around your heart squeezing . . . I wanted both of them to be raw, vulnerable and exposed and yet still have the capacity to love, to try and mend themselves. To have someone assure me I've managed to do all that? So makes my week. I've been really depressed about the feedback on this story. . but thank you. Thank you for reading for understanding and thank you for letting me know my words touched you.

Poor Buffy, to be abused from your family that's even worse. But she run when it got too much. For now she is safe but I hope she won't have to go back.
I like Spike gesture to bring her some rose petals.
Connor is new though. Buffy's nephew maybe?
Spike fate wasn't easy either. I'm glad they found one another.

Author's Response: I'm so glad you're still reading. It means an awful lot to me. Unfortunately, Buffy's family life isn't very pretty at all. . . but more of that will be revealed in later chapters. Oh, i'm really glad you liked the scene with the roses -- it just felt like something he would do.

So Spike did save her. I'm so glad he did. Who's the baby belong to though? It's not Buffy's or Spike's. Is it her sister's? Who's her sister? Darla? What happened? I can't wait to find out. For a fic this difficult to write, you're doing a wonderful job. I'm loving it.

Author's Response: Spike did save her. . . I don't wanna give too much away, but stick with me and you'll get all the answers, I promise. Thanks again, for continuing with this story and for leaving another review. I really, really, really appreciate it.