I laughed so hard from reading this chapter. Spike sending little demons after Xander. Xander so deserves it. It also makes a good point about Spike. That just because he couldn't hurt any of them himself because of the chip. Doesn't mean he couldn't send other demons after them or anything like that. If the scoobies could only open their eyes and see that Spike was truly changing. Instead they kept on kicking him over and over. It is no wonder how Spike didn't just say the heck with them and went back to his evil ways.
I also just realize that I never mentioned how much I love that banner. Looking at the picture of Spike just makes my mouth water. Now, why couldn't they just went a little lower on Spike. I just want to put my hands all over his body. Why would Buffy resist a hot bod like that. I'm so naughty, giggles.

Author's Response: I wanted people to see that Spike wasn't hurting them because he didn't want to, not because he couldn't. Yeah, I wish they had gone a little lower on Spike! :D My friend Julie made the banner and she's just as crazy over Spike as I am. I'm so glad you're liking this! Thank you!

Love the way angry Spike is mixing with disconnected Buffy. A beautiful twist on their relationship. See how Buffy handles it when the boy doesn't love her anymore. I truly don't know where this is going, and that is a fabulous thing. Please, update soon.

Author's Response: I didn't know where it was going when I wrote it. This story had a mind of its own :D I'm so glad you like it! Next update tomorrow.

Wow! Haven't really seen any "Non-Redemptionist!Spike" in ages!!! (Maybe since the days when the "All About Spike" Archive was still open & active") It's kinda refreshing in a way. Just a bit of something a li'l different.
Am interested in seeing where ya go with this. Was actually disappointed, once I got to reading, that there were ONLY 3 chappies posted so far!
And so this one, as well, has Xander showing the total jerkface & ass-hole-y side of himself. It seems like it kinda goes in waves, in fics, where Xander is THE real bad guy, either the 'real' monster, or just the predjudiced, bigoted, spineless hiding behind skirts big-mouthed moron that he can be. In some ways, I like Xander; but then again, I really kinda just like goofy Xander, and all-heart stalwart solid Xander (that one being the more mature Xander, but even then he is totally flawed whenever Buffy is around, and seems to outdo himself trying to piss on all the fenceposts in Sunnyhell...) It seems herein Xander is showing his (so far...) non-evil bigoted moronic single-tracked side, fanning the flames of dissention, getting a woman to fight his battles, being a real he-sissy. ,And Spike isn't being innocent in these sitches, not by a longshot--- but then, again (and AGAIN!) he's E.V.I.L.!--- at least this time around.
Speaking of Spike, it IS good to see him take up for himself, instead of being the victim. And in most cases & sitches, he's warranted to do it. We've become so 'used' to the 'neutered!' Spike that this pretty much seems unnatural per se. I guess I'm just trying to verbalize that it seems sad or wrong almost that he is taking up for himself only in this way, rather than in canon. Had Spike packed his shit up, loaded the Desoto and boogied outta town leaving Buffy & co. high & dry to figure out their own messes & emotions, to scratch their own itches, then with no need to dilute himself (?) with a soul, he would have been to rights, and they would've really had it coming! Where would Buffy have been THEN? Of course, that *would* have meant he would've left her just like every oter man... but in this context, so? He's evil; not really so in canon. Which is more the pity?
So, will Buffy continue to be the nearly cold-hearted (yet hot-blooded) closed-down control freak user-&-abuser, or is there room in here for her to learn a lesson in time for it to mean something & leave room for mutual enjoyment? And will Spike be learning a thing or two as well, or is he going to remain out for revenge and only looking out for #1??? There is something to like about his self-confidence, & gotta love that cocky swagger, and lack of fear in this one, yet now am already missing the lovesick fool who has Buffy's back without her even having to ask. I think what might've gotten to me the most was his near-lack of care and feelings for Dawn. It was great that he did feel a li'l twinge about her pluckiness, but it didn't have that universal depth of bond for her: and of course not---this Spike really had NOT felt it--- (hopefully only) YET.
Tho' have to say, lucky guy, not to really remember Harmony!!! LOL!
So, sorry to rant on in this, all to say, hey, it's got my attention, ya left me wanting more, and it's really kinda neat how you're fleshing it out so far in this unique sort of twist on things.... so... HURRY UP and post some MORE, 'K???? (And I really didn't set out to write so much!)
Lookin' foreward to it...
~~Kara

Author's Response: I loved the "All About Spike" site too and managed to save my favorite fics before it closed down. LOVE long reviews! I'm on the 'Xander's a spineless moron' bandwagon. He just ticks me off so much that I could write an essay on that - but somebody already did, in print. :D I agree with you about Spike - he should have gotten out when he could. People do find that unnatural. I've already had protests about this Spike not caving the way he did in S6. He's evil Spike, but he's a lot milder here than Buffy ever was to him, so I was a little surprised by the strong reactions. What a good thing I put up that warning! And lovesick Spike will make an appearance. Hey, rabid Spuffy girl here! :D I'm so glad you're liking it!

Buffy's attitude is really tiring. Instead of listening to Tara she immeidtely blames Spike and goes after him. Buffy has a major attitude adjustment coming. Great chapter

Author's Response: You know Buffy - one has to hit her over the head with a two-by-four before she listens. :D I'm so glad you're liking it! Thank you!

Wow this story has me so conflicted. It's actually the sign of a great author that you can provoke all these emotions in a reader.

As always your story is well written and thought out. I really liked the way that you have Spike use the Firoud as I often wondered why he would just sit there and take everything Xander said and did, especially in the period just after he was chipped.

The conflict part is that I don't actually like this Spike and am finding him just a bit too cruel even for a season 3 Spike. I really get that S6 Spike was a whipping boy and that needed to change but I'm not sure that heaping more emotional abuse onto a trauma survivor is a good thing. That's more Angelus' thing, Don't get me wrong cannon S6 Buffy wasn't my fav (she was so bitchy to Spike) but I could get that she suffered a huge trauma and had no help to recover - she really needed post traumatic counselling.

That being said you gave a warning re the content and I have chosen to read on as I do actually love your writing and the creativity you put into your stories. So like I said conflicted. (I guess I am really a fluffy fan at heart LoL)

So hugs and keep up the great writing and I will keep reading as your stories are well worth the occasional "ouch that's a bit harsh"

Author's Response: She does need counselling, but love and forgiveness only made her worse. If you put a man into Buffy's role in S6 and a woman into Spike's, it would be horrific. This Spike is actually being more kind than she was. And he has an agenda. :D I too am a fluffy fan at heart and things will get better. Trust me.

Not blaming Buffy for losing her temper. Can't wait to read more!

Author's Response: Canon never seems to realize how dangerous Spike could really be if he wanted to - and right now he's just playing. :D

This story is as readable and entertaining as your others , but it still has me on edge, because it is very intense. I rather wish Buffy wasn't confronting Spike in order to fight Xander's battles -- and that her self-loathing weren't making her so nasty in this one (I like your young innocent willing to learn Buffys and your sane, regretful grieving Buffys -- but this damaged, miserable, self-righteous Buffy, not so much).

Plus this looks like it's going to be going somewhere ugly pretty fast. I actually appreciate the cliffie, annoyingly placed though it is, because I fear that the resulting fight/ sexual encounter between these two is going to be horribly harsh, with so little respect and so much mutual disdain going on.

However, I'm hanging in here with this story because I trust you to turn these awful relationship dynamics around somehow (hopefully with a little communication and with both of them waking up to their true feelings sooner rather than later). More please? Do we really have to wait til tomorrow? (Just kidding).

Author's Response: I'd never really tried canon-Buffy in S6 before and this story is because I wanted to understand her. Replacing passive S6 Spike with aggressive S3 Spike makes her look at herself. They will be communicating, so the sexual encounter won't be as bad as you fear, though a little violent, sort of like 'Smashed'. They do respect each other underneath and it’s more mutual than destructive.

Being a little redundant here.. But I do like this Spike.. And I did like Xander in the beginning of BtVS but they made him such a wimp and a jerk at the same time.

Like your little demons.. Firouds..

Author's Response: Yeah, he started out nice and then they spoiled him. I'm fond of those Firoud. :D They're useful in so many ways, so they keep turning up. I'm so glad you're liking this! Thank you!