I get that Spike is angry, but this is a big overreaction. Buffy had reasons to help Angel and she tried to talk to Spike about it. Spike could have made her sing infront of Lorne to get some answers. Anyway, you'r really good at writing angst it really make me feel sorry for them, but I trust that things will be good in the end.

Author's Response: Hi magnus ... I know, there are lots of things both of them could've done differently ... but, if they always did everything perfectly and didn't overreact and do dumb stuff, I would be out of a job! My muse loves to make me cry ... and, therefore, I must share the pain with everyone else! Thanks for the trust that he (my muse) is not quite as evil as Joss ... not quite.

Thanks so much for reading and stopping in here! I love hearing from you!! {{hugs}} -P4S 2010.12.13

I wonder if Spike would lie to Buffy if the situation were reversed. Suppose Spike had a nightmare where Drusilla saved Annie’s life but the harder he tried to convince Buffy that Dru needed their help the more she wanted to dust Dru. What if in the dream Dru turned up in his life hurt and needing help (another mob or vampire hunter) with a vision of future Annie in danger if he do any different than Buffy. If ever TPTB needed to step in give Spike that dream, it would be now.
The dream should be followed by a movie version of “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Where Spike gets a glimpse into the future where Buffy is no longer in his or his children’s life. The future would be darker, Annie would be a troubled child who runs with the wrong crowds, lies and is sexually active like Faith. Her excuse is that she is her mother’s daughter and Spike has all but called Buffy a whore and liar. What if the twins without their mother’s love fail to thrive and become like those children who were never held or loved. They form some kind of attachment disorder, possibly even psychosis/anti-social personality tendencies or worse show signs of sociopathic behavior.
I get Spike’s hurt at being lied to by Buffy, but Buffy was acting on a mother’s love. Spike would probably do the same if it meant protecting his daughter. A father’s love can be just as protective and fierce as any mother’s.
Would hate to think of their kids without their mother but only your muse knows where this trail of tears end up at. Look forward to more!



Author's Response: Hi Vette!! I just *love* your insightful reviews ...thank you sooo much for leaving them!

You are so right about the Dru scenerio ... that would be very possible and very likely that Spike would do exactly the same thing that Buffy's done. He would do anything to protect his children, but he just can't wrap his mind around Angel helping them after all the bad that Angel's done. He's jealous of Angel being the 'favored son' of the PTB and he's angry at him for everything he knows about Angelus ... he just can't come to grips with it ... yet.

And again, you're very right - even though Spike thinks he can raise the kids himself just fine, there's no telling what will happen to any of them without Buffy around. Willow and Tara can't fill her shoes and shouldn't have to. I love your "It's a Wonderful Life" idea ... that's actually kind of scary because there's a whole story lurking in my muse's mind that is very much like that... :O (shhhh... don't tell anyone!)

Luckily, my muse isn't so much evil as he is angsty - he just loves to make me cry, but keep the faith ... the trail of tears will not turn into a torrent, well it might, but not for too much longer .. the sun will shine again...

Thanks so much for reading and stopping in here - I always love your reviews! -P4S 2010.12.13

Oh Spike, I'm on his side, but he could have handled that conversation with Annie a lot better. No child needs to be worried their parent doesn't love them and won't be coming back. I know I said for him to take the children because I wanted him to stand up for himself, but that doesn't mean I want him to not let Buffy have any access. Just wanted him to let her know that he wasn't walking away from the children's lives, and she was the one who messed up.

I know repairing their relationship will take a long time, and I know angst adds to a story, but I really hate angst and wish this could be over now. Damn the need for realism in good writing! I'm going to be driven crazy by this story. Perhaps, it will be better for my health if I just stick to what I normally do and blame Angel. Though I do find it suspicious that in the dream Angel just couldn't tell Buffy and Spike, no matter what the concerns they should have been told. I mean it's almost as if he cares more about the chance to be the hero than actually helping Annie and JJ. Making Angel the bad guy already makes me feel better. He'll probably get to be a good guy anyway, but I need something to get me through the angst. Once Buffy and Spike are okay again, I won't care if Angel gets to play the hero. Let me have my dreams!

Author's Response: Hi WWW! Yeah, I think Spike knows that he handled that badly ... he may make a few more bad decisions before it's over ... There will be more angst ... sorry you don't care for it - it's one of my muses favorite things... well, you should know that by now!

I told my muse that you weren't gonna like it when he was giving me this story line, but he said you'd be happy in the end ... so, just hang in there and blame Angel for wanting to be the hero and save the kids... I don't know all the reasons he did that, my muse hasn't shared that with me, so you can go with that if it makes it easier!

Will have more soon! keep the faith! Thanks so much for sticking with me! I love your reviews! -P4S 2010.12.12