p.s. brown paper bag=i COULDN'T BREATHE!

Author's Response: I'm shipping one to you as we speak! LoL!

i couldn't do it! i couldn't read the poems! they were just too personal and frankly, too embarassing. and i can NOT watch someone emabarass themselves. that's why i'm a writer, not an actor/singer. but i know, I KNOW, i'm gonna have to go back and see if it was mentioned on who that brunette was. i'm thinking maybe Dru? i'm gonna have to build up the courage here and woo! could he be my teacher!

Author's Response: Although I have covered most of the reviews that you have graciously left for this story and Breathless, the emotion and thought that you put into them still astounds me. Thank you, again, for letting me know what you are feeling and thinking while reading my stories.

Well my sweet. part of me is glad that I have read this story, but the other part of me is cracking up as I decided to read up to a point where I can't wait for the next chapter. Thank goodness the weekend is on its way and I can find chapter 20. If you get this e-mail review and read it and DON'T update, then it really will be the whip.....and I might just add chains.

Love - Glynis

Author's Response: I am hoping that Muse shows up this week. For some reason, she's being very quite and it's driving me batty. Shes been unusually mute about FP, there for a while all I could do was focus on it and ended up neglecting LC. Thankfully, she was able to make an appearance last week and allow me to get a chappie out for that. I was afraid my readers were going to leave me. I am having trouble starting the next chapter, I know what I want to happen, but can't seem to get it started just yet. Well, I still have two days left at work after tonight, so I will most likely get an update posted. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful reviews. Made me smile and that's a difficult task to do when I am several feet underground in my basement hellhole I call work. Hope things are still going well for you and that the new job has settled down a bit. Have a great weekend! Love, Tori

Great chapter. Though I do wish Buffy would realize she's never going to be happy with Riley. Anyway, can't wait for the next one.

Author's Response: Wish will be granted soon, Nika. Thank you!

I was just as anxious for the first meeting too and put off reading it because it ws too uncomfortable. great update, waiting for another.

Author's Response: Glad you got the nerve up to read it. Wasn't as bad as you thought it would be, huh? Thanks for the review, Kelly!

Wow. I am always in awe of the way writers with the inate talent to tell a story well have the ability to take words that have little meaning on their own and string together with others to create such powerful feelings in their readers. That's exactly what you've done here, even without the powerful poems, whose writers are amazing by themselves, based on their work as presented here. I'm so glad you decided to press on. So, thankful that you gave us this chapter. It conveys the feelings of the lost lovers perfectly, as well as that of the woman who separated them in the first place, but has been uncovered as a woman who all along, including now, only wants what's best for her daughter. All that, and you've managed to peak our curiosity about who the brunette who waltzed in & out of class with Spike. Can't wait to find out and to witness Buffy's redemption in Spike's eyes, as I think he's been redeemed in hers, as if he even needed it. VERY excellent chapter.

Author's Response: Wow, ok...ego so very much becoming overinflated! What a wonderful review! I'm so glad that everyone seems to have enjoyed this chatper, wasn't sure what the response would be since the anticipation of their reunion has been dragged out even longer. So happy that it went well. I just really wanted some way for their feelings to be brought out without anyone actually having to talk to one another and this seemed like the best Spike-like way to do it. He was very sneaky indeed. Thanks again for the comments, they were so nice and encouraging.

He does still want her doesn't he? - "haven't forgotten my way home". OK and Buffy's jealous which should give her a big point in the right direction. Loved it.

Author's Response: You interpreted that correctly, Sam...Spike is still rather infatuated with our dumb-blonde. Thanks for the review!

The brunette better be his sister or something ,and please not Dru, you said in your A/N that there's 2 chapters left, that's good because Buffy's hardheadedness and illogical behaviour is driving me nuts. I really , really am enjoying this ,but she pisses me off, and I can't forgive Joyce so readily just because she now realizes what she did. If her daugther winds up with Riley in a loveless marriage the guilt should eat her up alive.



Author's Response: Her behavior is driving me nuts, too, Jo. Hard to imagine since it's all my fault that she's being like she is! :) I know lots of readers won't be able to forgive Joyce just yet, but I think in time (?!) you will. Thanks for the review!

Oh I wonder who is guest is please tell me he didn't pick someone up, just to get over his loss of Buffy. If he did thought it might give her the push she needs to leave Riley and go to Spike. If Spike will have her.

Author's Response: Now, do you really think lovelorn Spike would do something like that? ok, yeah he probably would after massive amounts of alcohol. You'll find out next week, I promise. Thanks so much!

Lady Friend.. Maybe the lovely Drusilla? Did Buffy even notice?

And Joyce, trying to right a wrong with the truth in relationships. I still think she was right in asking Spike to step aside until she was 18.. But not to hide his letters and the fact that he came to see her.

Ah, lovers.. speaking to each other in poetry. Taking his out of the trash. Poor safe, loving, dependable Riley.. kind of like have a puppy.

Enjoyed the early update. Tell the muse -Thank you.


Author's Response: Oh, Buffy noticed all right.. cheeks reddened with jealousy or something to that effect. The mystery guests identity will be revealed in the next chapter, which I am hoping to work on that over the weekend. I thought the whole poetry thing really went well with Spike as a whole; got his feelings right out there in the open. Yes, Riley is very much like a puppy. Cute and cuddly, but you wouldn't marry it, would you? My muse says you are very welcome. She enjoyed this chapter. Plus, really needed to get Joyve and Buffy back on speaking terms. Thanks for the review, Pam! Good luch this weekend!