This conversation was romantic and revealing, and I was sure it was leading somewhere permanent. Spike being truthful, letting Buffy in on the inner workings of his desires stopped her in her tracks. He's got no filter. He's a dangerous predator, he's not killing because he made a promise, not because he's changed. This is going to be a long road, isn't it? Thanks for making it so rich and entertaining.

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked their conversation. Buffy and Spike are not quite permanent, yet. They have something very deep, but they do have a road ahead of them. Spike is not ready to stop being a vampire for her, and he's honest about it. Thanks for reviewing!

naww such a sweet chapter... i can't wait till the next ones up:)

Author's Response: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing!

I lost track of this story due to RL stuff, but I'm happy to say I'm all caught up again and enjoying it greatly. Yay! You are really working the angst here in these last couple of chapters (and I love it!)

I like how you've worked Anya into the tale and I'm also glad that Joyce is dealing with the slayage and (for now) would apparently not object to Buffy keeping Spike closer. 'Course that may change when she inevitably learns that Spike is one of the nasties her daughter kills.

Clever twist in how you worked the mayor plot line in with the Angelus/Faith connection. Too bad Angelus knew of vengeance demons and how to disarm them ~ I would've liked to have heard Faith's wish.

I hope to be able to remain current with the story and will endeavor to comment more frequently.

Author's Response: Glad you like the angst! Really, I did not set out to write such an agnsty chapter, or story. But I guess "Spike's a killer" + "Buffy's not" = Instant Angst. But it will get better! Two steps forward, one step back... I'm glad you like Anya. It was always my plan to have her "out" what happened, since she could be there to observe it. And Xander needs someone. :) As for the Mayor, I always wondered how he got so many followers. Vampires taking orders from humans, and surely they could see he would destroy everything...? That scene in Enemies made me wonder what it would have been like for the Mayor to meet any of the other big bads. And Faith's wish will forever remain a mystery, I suppose. But it would have been good. Anya would know! I'm glad you liking it, and thanks for reviewing!

I'm sniffling and my folks are staring! 'Hold me while you can'? This broke my heart! Damn Spike's honesty! *sobs*

I want more, hun, please!!!

Congratulations again for the awards, more than well deserved, hun!!!

*huggles*

Author's Response: Awww, don't cry too much! It will get better, I promise! Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the congrats!

OMG THATS SOOOO SAD, WHY CANT HE JUST GIVE IT UP FOR HER, IF HE REALLY CARED FOR HER, HE WOULD!! i LOVE this story and am so happy that u updated. they were so cute and now their relationship is screwed. i really hope that spike in the future is willing to give up feeding and i hope that he sees that he just broke her heart. also i hope that everything works out and that they end up together and happy. PLEASE update as soon as u can, im DYING to read wat happens next. THANX

Author's Response: Well, their relationship isn't completely screwed. It will get better, I promise! Spike may be willing to do things differently in the future, but many things will happen before then. I'm glad you enjoyed and thanks for reviewing!

Oh I hope they manage to work somthing out.

Author's Response: They'll have some ups and downs, but with two steps forward and one step back, they've got to get there eventually, right? :) Thanks for reviewing!

This story is so beautiful! I absolutely love the way you are developing the relationship between these two. It struck me reading the last few lines of dialogue, that Spike's desire to kill, his awareness that he will eventually do so again and has wanted to even as recently as the night before, could be read as a metaphor for the desire we all have for others, no matter how passionate a relationship is in the beginning or however much we love someone after that. The dilemma here on one level seems to be the impossibility of reconciling passion and love because, over time, the former will inevitably fade and we can't stop ourselves being attracted to others - the lure of their blood as it is expressed here. This is so carefully crafted and thought-provoking. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you're liking it so much! Hmm, I didn't think of it that way when I was writing it; I'll leave the metaphor to Joss, LOL. But so if Spike does give up killing, does that mean that he's is totally devoted to Buffy? Because I don't see him giving it up unless he wanted her more than he wanted anything else. Thank you for the comments, and I'm glad you're enjoying!

That's lovely. I love your Soulless!Spike - unapologetic and brutally honest yet still loving, in his own way as confused as Buffy is by their powerful emotional connection. Also, this story has some of the sexiest, sweetest biting scenes I've read in, oh, maybe ever.

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like where my Spike is at right now. Yes, he cares for Buffy, but he's still very much a vampire. And thank you for the compliments on the bite scenes! I set out to write a very bitey fic, and do each bite differently (and we still have quite a few to go), so I'm glad people are liking it!

I haven't reviewed before, shame on me, but I am hanging on your every word. I go back and reread Chapter 44 every time you update... how you write the intimacy of the biting is just so compelling. This scene is even more satisfying. Mmmm.

The way Buffy reacts to Spike's killing, the way she resents his affection for her Slayer blood, the whole "it's still the same" exchange really gets at one of the things that sets this fic apart... your Buffy is still so connected to her humanity. It's cool to see a mature Buffy deal with being called. And if angsty bedroom chats with Spike help her work through it, I won't complain.

Author's Response: Well, thank you for taking the time to review! I'm flattered you're liking the story so much. Well, I wouldn't say she resents what he said about her blood, it's just something she never considered before. And I'm glad you like an older Buffy. I wanted to explore what being called would be like if you didn't have all the high school stuff to deal with as well, and eventuall get into some 'shades of gray' stuff. Thanks for reviewing!

Oops! Didn't meant to be THAT anonymous...

Author's Response: It's okay! :)

A beautifully intimate scene. Really loved it.

Author's Response: Thank you!

You have honestly got to be the most fantastically brilliant author here on this site. No joke. No chapter is boring, it's not all just a smut-fest, and the Spike characterization is AMAZING. He doesn't turn into a pansy because of Buffy, and he's honest about how he feels. eg. he still thinks about killing. He can't just stop doing it forever just because Buffy wants him to. Your writing matures with every chapter (I can see a difference from the first couple chapters and the last couple chapters.)
Keep writing!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! I try to keep a balance in chapters and between chapters. And thank you for the compliments on characterization! Yes, Spike is falling (or has fallen for) Buffy, but he can't just stop being what he is because she wants him to. And thank you for the compliments on my writing! Looking back, I think I could have started this story out better (a longer first chapter and a bigger hook). But also looking back, it was a happy, fluffy time with not much conflict, which was the point of allowing Spike to meet Buffy before she was the Slayer. At any rate, I went back not that long ago and fixed some grammatical and structural things in the earlier chapters, so I feel better about them in that regard. Thank you for reviewing!