Oh! Words! I need to find good words and find myself quite speechless at this. I hate it that words leave me when I need them the most.

THis was very lovely. Ok, first, that you don't beat the reader over the head with when in the timeline this is set. You treat the reader like they're smart and can infer a few things.

I loved the "promise to a lady" and her (clever wording) "emphatic twitch" that she was not a lady. THat the Scoobies fall away while Spike remains vigilant is so lovely.

And singing? You destroyed me with his singing.

This story was completely unique and so lovely. Her reaction to his singing "Amazing Grace" had me actually laughing out loud. Just the right about of humor at the perfect juncture.

Finally (Boy am I glad this story isn't on the front page so everyone won't read this next bit) I cried! The ending? "Every night he saved me." Yup. Cried. I'm pretty sure I haven't actually wept at Spuffy before. So you get a special teardrop medal of some kind :)

Thank you!

Author's Response: What a wonderful detailed review! Thank you so much, Terri. You\'ve thrilled me and given me a warm tingly feeling... and I\'ve got a pin ready to attach my medal to my lapel... ;-)

The shifting dynamics between the two of them is very interesting. My favorite bit was that with Travers. I know a lot of people don't like Stephen King, but I do and I thought the gore was Kingesque and very well done!

Author's Response: Thank you! That\'s an amazing compliment.

I have to say it again. There is no way this is your first fic. You're too good. You make me wanna smash my laptop (in a good way). Sorta!

Again, very visceral, raw sexuality yet emotionally devastating. Sure, more! Buffy might not be able to steer horseys or motorcycles, but she scares the shit out of people when she's behind the wheel.

I wanted to write like you write, but Santa is a bastard and coughed up dvds instead :(

Author's Response: Aw shucks! Thanks for the lovely compliments. I\'m so glad it came across that way for you. I mean, I set out to write smutty-McSmutness and all, but also to tap out a dark note or two. As for Buffy\'s automotive skills, I wouldn\'t get in the car with her for all the tea in China.

THAT was very good! This bit just had me standing in awe: "Even now: clad in that shapeless nylon nightmare and that ludicrous Bessie the Bleeding Cow cap, even slathered in failure and rendered fat. Even now the little minge could still lance him like a sodding boil."

The description of sex as part hate and part lust and part something else was just very good. I can't believe this is your first fic. Applause! (One tiny small fixy: wonton to "wanton")

Author's Response: Thanks, Puddinhead! I\'m working on the third part, now, and it gets a bit darker. I sometimes do think there is a bit of hatred in lust. \"(One tiny small fixy: wonton to wanton)\" OUCH! Hahahahah, that\'s actually a pretty funny typo... Can I have a side of egg roll and chop suey with that poem, please! Thanks so much for catching it, and letting me know.

It's very scary to be a first time author! I know how I felt when I started putting my story out there. I think you have a very powerful story inside your head. Minx gives you some great advice. Slow down and tell it, don't rush. Set scenes.

One thing people say often is "Show, don't tell." If you can show how he is being inconsistent with her (rather than say that he was) it has a lot more power. Tell a little story, showing how he behaved and describe her feelings as it happens. That helps pull the reader in to care about the characters.

What you can do is to find how your favorite authors "show, don't tell." Notice how they write a scene, then try to picture your scene in a similar way - but with your voice - if that makes sense.

You have a lot of story here - best wishes with it!

Author's Response: Thank you very much! I will work on that!

Still reading this, but from my Nook, since I get most of my reading time when I'm away from a computer.

I have to peek back on and give the odd review though! I thought you handled her goodbye scene with her dad very well. I also like the character of Ellen. I keep expecting her to turn evil, but so far - she seems pretty full of win.

Author's Response: Oh, never heard of Nook before. Most people I know use Kindle. Tablets are awesome for us ravenous readers. ;) I think most people expected her to be evil. That was my intention. *g* Thank you for being lovely!!

This was just a fantastic chapter. The seduction bit with the chocolate cake was very erotic and sounded so fresh and original which is hard to do with sex. Just excellent. Sorry I skipped reviewing a few chapters, but I just kept roaring ahead like a ... Spike with cake.

Author's Response: *beams* You\'re so freaking lovely! Yes, I had to use the word \'freaking\' because it deserved an extra emphasis. Ah, chocolate. Well, it is supposed to be an aphrodisiac. ;) Massive thank you for reviewing, Puddin!!

This was great. You write creepy well - mixing dialogue with the right touch of setting and atmosphere. Eline is interesting - enough humanity remaining so she's a layered baddie! I wasn't able to continue this story for a while because when my own writing is stuck, I tend to do that!

Author's Response: I always procrastinate by reading other people\'s stuff and feel sorry for myself because I wish I could write as well as they do. ;) I\'m totally winking at you right now because you\'re one of them. Thank you so much for the wonderful words!!

The action is great. He's just SO compelling - his actions with her as a child. But as a writer, I was impressed with how you were able to sum up his entire history with Giles and what he was up to, with just a few short sentences right before all the action started. That's incredibly difficult to do!

Author's Response: Writing action scenes makes me nervous and I\'m never satisfied with them, so thank you for telling me you liked! :) I mulled over a lot about how to introduce Giles and his relation to Spike/William. Wrote and rewrote and decided to keep it short and simple. Again, thank you for the wonderful review!!

Two of my favorite things about this chapter: I like that his character has this dark secret, this failing - that he couldn't protect "her" (ala Dawn) and all the implications that go along with that.

I also loved the bit about "did he just British-insult her"? :D

Author's Response: Thank you, gorgeous!! :D And I\'m pretty sure you\'d agree that writing a character that is perfect and completely happy would be the most boring thing in the world. Failures, insecurities, growing; those are much more interesting to me both as a writer and as a reader.

Now you've gone and written this and now THIS is my favorite thing you've written. The scene post Dru-killage is just the best. My favorite bit is when he admits to disgusting himself sometimes, just before he pushes away from her.

Very nicely done Minx!

Author's Response: You are so sweet! thank you.