God. Ted is really really screwed in the head. A monster and a very "screwed in the head" monster. I believe I'm not wrong to think it's him who kidnaps Dawn. First he tries to kill Buffy, and then, even with the police after him, he kidnaps Dawn. Hope the girl will be found before it 's too late.

Yeah, I know, but your words "not happy ending" keep on staying in my mind. When I read that Hank will come from Paris, I almost expect his plane will crash. If it's a plane. And if it's by boat, that the boat will sink. See what you have done with my optimism ;)!

I love the scene where Buffy and Dawn confront Joyce and say her exactly what she is: a despicable human being, not even a mother. The worst: it seems that before Ted, she was really a good person. Monstruosity is a contagious disease? She doesn't even have the decence to apologize, to feel remorses. Desperate case. I must admit it, I'm curious to know how she would justify his attitude toward her daughters.

No need to say I'm impatient to know what you have in reserve for the next chapters!

OMG, what happens to Dawn!? eehhh, can you have Ted die some sort of horrifyingly painful death? I love this story btw. Totally loving the relationship progression w/ Spike & Buffy. Has Spike already given her the music box? I really wanted to see that. Update soon.

Author's Response: No, not yet, but it's coming soon. Sorry just wait! If I make a last chapter before the epilogue, then it'll be then. If not, I'll mention it in the epilogue.

I love this story, it means a lot to me. This sis the one story that i want to read all the time now. You make the abuse so real, and emotional, which is great, for the story. So, please update soon, cuz this is my favorite. Thanx

Ok I know I didn't review the other chapters. The simple reason: I read all you had so far all at once . I reall y like this story it's got up and down and even a few twists. I can't wait to see if Ted gets what's comeing to him or if he'll get away with it all. And someone totally needs to slap Joyce. Update soon.

hope Ted gets beat up! He deserves it SOOO much. I'm assuming Ted has raped Buffy before, but I'm not exactly sure...has he? How long has this been going on? I'm SO GLAD Spike and Buffy are FINALLY TOGETHER!!! I hope to see more Spuffy! I've also been wondering....if Spike has wanted to kiss her all his life, why was he with Dru and why wasn't he more protective of Buffy? He didn't do anything even though he knew! Joyce is a HORRIBLE person. I don't want her to have a relationship with Buffy and Dawn. She doesn't deserve it! Great chapter! I'm glad they're out of that house for the time being! I can't wait to read more! UDPATE SOON PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!1

Me again... Please, don't think it's an habit ;)! I wanted to write at the end no "State of race", but "state of grace"... Of course...

Something big's gonna happen...I can feel it. Why would Ted suddenly stop? It doesn't make sense. I hate to say it, but I think something major is gonna happen to Buffy and it's most probably not gonna be in a good way. I'm also wondering why Spike hasn't done anything sooner? Isn't he supposed to be her friend? Didn't he care that she was getting beat up almost everyday? I'm really getting into your fic and can't wait to read the next chapter! UPDATE SOON PLEASE!!!!!!

Author's Response: No, Spike tried something earlier (It was briefly mentioned in chapter 6 I believe) But Buffy told everyone that she was fine and to back off basically. You can, however, assume that the social workers are watching from the background, and that as time wears on they have drifted away. Hence the issue with Ted. Also, Ted didn't 'stop' per se, Buffy's been carefully making sure her and dawn are no where to be found=p

Hum... Me again. I have just seen the lenght of what I wrote, I didn't think it was so long... I swear it!

Your story is terrific. You are terrific. I remember this sentence of Aldous Huxley: "How do you know if life is not the hell of another planet?". It seems that is what Buffy and Dawn live. Every day, since their mother has married Ted. And I ask myself questions. The most evident: why does Joyce stays with Ted, a man (really a man?) , who makes Hannibal Lecter looks like Santa Claus? I thought first she was scared, like her daughters, by him. Beaten and threatened by her husband. In the first chapter, Spike says about Ted : "a bloody insensitive prick that beats his wife and two step kids" and Dawn: "Couldn’t let mom take all the beating tonight". Maybe Joyce thinks that if she leaves, it would be worse, and Ted would take revenge. BUT, Buffy says too "He beat Dawn and me but he never laid a finger on her". So, is Ted a rich, a powerful man? It doesn't seem to me, he seems only a businessman, not particularly having influence, or practicing corruption on police and social services... Because he is rich and Joyce can't have enough money to assume her children? But she has a work. So, it seems it's worst, in the most horrible way, she maybe really loves her husband. Buffy doesn't want to talk about what her family bears and ask for help because "I didn’t go somewhere, or get out of there with mom and Dawn. But Mom didn’t want to leave, and I’d never leave without her". But she can go, with Dawn, because there is none mother I see in this story. A mother who "turned a blind eye on our beatings, even though she knew they were going on", who, when her daughter is beaten, cut, only "smiled sadly at me, before disappearing downstairs to her husband". Who lets her own daughters be beaten, molested and raped by her husband. About the last point, it's possible she doesn't know that Ted rapes Dawn and tries to attack Buffy. When he tries, he leaves "so that Mom couldn’t come in and see what her precious husband was actually trying to do". But even! He beats them, and Joyce doesn't make anything. She lost every right to be called a mother. My advice? Buffy must leave with Dawn. For God's sake, what hasn't she leave already? He rapes a child, a girl of 12 years old! She can get pregnant or have AIDS (don't seem to me Ted is the kind of man who is faithfull to his wife and using a condom before raping his step-daughter). Maybe Dawn reasons like Buffy and doesn't want let her mother with Ted. Maybe the sisters are afraid to be separated if they ask help to social services, to be placed in different homes or family...But they are both in danger. One day, the bastard could kill them. You said in the resume that it will be no happy endings. So, what do you prepare? One of the sister gets pregnant, and dies during abortion or giving birth? Spike is killed by Ted when he tries to protect the 2 sisters? Buffy kills Ted and go in jail? Well, dark, but we are already in hell... When I read your resume and the first chapter, I thought "No happy end? I will hate it". It's odd. I hate Ted. I hate Joyce. I think Buffy and Dawn are wrong to stay with their mother. That Spike is an ass to stay with Dru. At each chapter, I am angry... Angrier and angrier... And I can stop reading it ;)! I guess I will be very angry and very depressed at the final chapter. Life seems a cruel in any ways...