to quote Ron Weasley: "She needs to sort out her priorities!" i don't think you've made her out to be a "hateful, selfish, demon-woman" but i have called her a bitch on many occasion, cuz she hurt Spike and i LOVE Spike so when Spike gets hurt, I get all defendy. lol but i would looove to read that review though!


p.s. plan Spuffy *snicker* LOL and i would never EVER say this: “You’re the one I need, Riley.” she's not in love with him! i'd just be friends. end of story. i know that she has abandonment issues but i do too. and i still wouldn't settle for someone i'm not in love with, no matter how painful it ended b/c hopefully they'd understand. this is a long ass p.s. so i'm gonna go....next chappy!


Author's Response: Yea, glad you understand where I am going with this...lots of sordid pasts and tumultuous emotions to deal with and whatnot.

This is your story, write the character as you see fit. If the path is for her to be blind to what could be because her history with those she cares for is less than stellar, then so be it. It makes the story and the ultimate climax that much worth waiting for.

I've been reading all along, just not reviewing (my bad) so i truly encourage you to keep on writing and don't become discouraged.

Author's Response: Hey there Opal! Glad to hear from you, I have decided not to take a break, well a long one anyway. This week has been hectic and I haven't gotten a chance to work on the next chapter, so it more than likely won't be out until the end of next week. Thank you so much for the review!

I personally liked where you were going. I think that its very realistic how Buffy is reacting to Spike being back in her life. Why should she immediately drop her two-year relationship with Riley as soon as Spike (a guy she thinks abandoned her) comes back in town? Please don't take to long of a break, I'm sure that I'm not the only reader that likes what you're doing.

Author's Response: Well, thank you, B! I'm so happy to hear that pretty much all of my reviewers like where I am taking the story. I promise the break won't be long, should be out late next week.

Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Execellent chapter.

Author's Response: Thanks ever so much! After rereading it, I am utterly amazed at how few typos I made while writing under the influence of cold meds. LoL!

I think you're doing a wonderful job. This story is excellent, and I can't wait until the next update. While I think Buffy is being a grade A bitch, she does have issues to deal with. She doesn't think that passion as strong as she has with Spike will last, and she thinks it will only mean heartache in the end. And who can blame her for not wanting to get hurt, again?

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I am hoping to have another out soon. I know what is going to happen, just can't seem to get it started! Thanks again for the wonderful comments!

What is there to say, Buffy is very confused, in her mind she is doing what is right! But in my mind she is crazy!!! Thanks for the update, will watch for another.

Author's Response: Agreed. Buffy = Crazy, but with good intentions. Thanks so much, Kelly.

I really liked this chapter, really expressed what Buffy's feeling right now, the emotionall turmoil she's in. And also don't worry, not all of us thought that Buffy was a complete and utter bitch, I figured she was only protecting herself, not wanting to be hurt again :D and that's understandable. Not loving the Riley-lovin', but then again I was never a big fan of him in the show and still ain't. I'm all for Spuffy! (isn't that obvious?) *grin*

Keep it up! hugs and kisses/annie

Author's Response: I admit, she is being a bitch, but she honestly has good intentions. Riley has been really good to her over the past couple of years and she is doing what she thinks to be the right decision. I am so glad that to hear that not all of you think bad thoughts about her, as well as my writting. Thank you so much for the fantastic review, Annie.

Please don't give up or take a break or whatever you want to call it. You had an idea and you should stick with it. Obviously if no-one was reading then hey cut your losses but people are and we may not all agree with you all the time but hell how boring would that be and we have tooing and froing in the reviews (which I really like) and if we all thought the same we'd all be writing the same - and I can't. I read for enjoyment and if I don't enjoy I give up and I have but I'm not - other's aren't - that's just your cold making you feel like crap. Chin up and give us that next chapter - please.

Author's Response: Hey Sam, after much consideration on the break, I realized that there probably wouldn't be a chance in hell of that happening anyway. While this story may not be every one's cup of tea, it has me by the short hairs and refuses to let go until finished. Thanks you so much for the thoughtful comments, they made me smile and since I am at work, that's a tough thing to do.

I have been enjoying this story all along. Of course I wish the path to true love was an easy one but then the story would be short. I think you have done a good job in conveying why Buffy would be reluctant to give her heart to Spike again. One bitten twice shy is a cliche for a reason.

Author's Response: Yes, it would be one hell of a short story if everything had of just flowed along smoothly. Not to mention, it wouldn't be marked under angst, right? Thank you so much, Sarah.

Maybe where the power of some negative reviews have made you take a step back & re-evaluate, possible one positive one can make you not have to. (*And, this coming from someone who left a ranting review for the previous chapter about how un-sorry I feel for Buffy.) I don't think you need to re-evaluate what you are trying to convey. I know you appeased my irritation with Buffy with that first statement she made to Willow. I even understand the abandonment issues. I completely get where you're coming from. I mean, Buffy is a human being. She has faults & feelings. Feelings are never pretty. They don't always make sense and they can be known to cause people to make unwise decisions that make no sense to anyone else. Granted, I think her abandonment issues where Spike is concerned are misplaced. She needs to place that blame on the doorstep of dear old Mom. Yes, he left that first night they were together, but that was to comply with her mom & make things easier on Buffy. He didn't abandon her. I mean, damn! The man wrote letters that her Mom never gave her! I don't understand how that could lead to such a warped view of love. I know she will eventually wake up & realize that the reason that it's so exciting to be around Spike is because she is totally completely in love with him. This chapter went a long way into helping me understand Buffy's mindset. Do I still wish WIllow would just speechify & tell her what she thinks as far as the Spike situation goes so that Buffy will have an epiphany and beg forgiveness of Spike & run into his arms, never to leave? YES! But, since I have faith that epiphany will happen eventually, I am being patient. I mean, the saying is true: "The path to true love is never true." I personally love this story and the way you have painted the characters, flaws and all. Really, hoping for more soon. (*I realize this may have changed with the additional note, but in the author's note at the beginning? Did you mean only two-three more chapters for us to read or for you to write?)

Author's Response: Hey there! First of all, I will not be taking a long hiatus, maybe just a week to suss out what I want to happen in the next chapter. After much reconsideration, I realized that muse wouldn't let me totally quit for a while. She's far to persistant and is gnawing at the bit to start the next installment. Yes, there will only be 2-3 chapters left. I am amazed that it is almost over, but I honestly didn't expect it to be this long anyway. Thank you so much for the review, it was awesome and made me feel much better. Glad to hear that pretty much all of my fandom understood what I was trying to convey with Buffy's action. I also agree that Willow should just put on her Resolve face and tell Buffy how it's gonna be, but I think that I am going to leave that to dear old Mom. Need to get her back into ya'lls good graces anyhow. Thanks again!

Sweetie, I think you're conveying exactly what you're trying to convey, and doing a great job of it. I don't think Buffy is a bitch demon woman, and have never gotten that impression from this story. I hope you stick it out with this one - it's possible that the problem some people have with the story is theirs, not yours.

Author's Response: I totally agree with you, Katie. I just wanted you guys to know that I never meant to make her callous and I am elated to hear that it didn't come across that way. Thank you so much!

Well, I don't know if I just think differently from other people but I do understand Buffy. All consuming passion is really very scary, and the need for something solid in her life, that's not gonna change is understandable. Not that I agree with her, but I can understand.

Of course, she's only fooling herself, and by doing it, Riley tand Spike too. But I'm sure she'll wake up sooner or later and realize that nice has nothing compared to mind blowing passion ;)

Author's Response: Thanks for the uplifiting review, Avalon. Yes, I was worried about the general consensus of my readers and what they thought about Buffy's attitude. After reading not only yours, but all of the reviews left today, my outlook has changed considerably. Buffy is a frightened little girl at this moment and is clinging to the one stable aspect in her everchanging life. Her heart's desire will make itself known soon. I promise. Thank you so much!

I can understand, why she is staying with Riley, and why she sent Spike away, she is running scared and as she said Riley is safe, I don't know what I want Riley to say right now at least she came clean with him.

Her relationship with Spike never really got a chance to start because of her mother and she also needs to have some kind of closer with Spike. I can understand her sleeping with Spike too, because hey never really one to talk, Spike was taken with her from the first time he saw he in Cordy's mothers bedroom, then the kisses they shared and next think they knew they were in bed together.

So her sleeping with him now can be understood, she is also scared he will leave her again so why not send him away, after all he left the first time without saying anything for her. So in a way she gave the out and she left him before anything to bad can happen.

It might help her if Spike and her were able to become friends, or something, I am not sure if they used BC, and not really sure if a Baby would be a good thing, since they said Riley and her are waiting til after being married.


I love this story and think you are just fine with it.


Author's Response: See...that's what I wanted! Right there. Where you as a reader can put yourself in her position. You can relate to the emotional whirlwind that is going on in her heart at the moment. Yes, she jumped into bed with Spike without a whole heck of a lot of thought to Riley; but, when someone cheats, do they really think about their significant other at that exact moment. I honestly don't think so, not that I have been in that position, but I have counseled many of friend in that department. Buffy's guilt came later, when the realization of what she had done hit her like a satelite falling out of the sky. She felt guilty. Remorseful, and truly ashamed of the way she had behaved. Plus, coming clean with Riley was a major step with her. It would have been very easy to just sweep it under the rug. Although I have managed to make Riley a nice guy in this story, a huge feat for me, he is eventually going to get the boot. I, for one, am a sucker for a happy Spuffy ending. Also, as far as the pregger issue. No, she's not going to get knocked up. That would be an aspect of the story that I am just not willing to go into. She's on BC, that will be mentioned later. Thanks so much!