Home | New/Updated | Completed | Authors | Titles | Search | Sweet Temptation | TopTen | Betas | Challenges | Tools | Chat | Help | Login Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by TalesofSpike   vladt Chapter 4.11 08/08/2006 01:55 pm very good read, thank you. nice to see clem with girl friend. angel and faith rushing to sunnyd. i'm sure bufy will be thrilled.   kim Chapter 4.11 08/08/2006 12:30 pm Awww, Clem has a girlfriend... Dr. Dolittle, indeed! But I have a feeling he'll need their help. Angel and Faith coming to the rescue...I really liked the big brother/little sister thing they ended up with. He's someone Faith has genuine cause to care about, after believing in her this long. I'm sure Buffy's going to put up a big fuss about them showing up, though. Yep, Clem's got himself a girlfriend and she'll be around for quite a while in a background sort of way. Spike will probably be glad of some company of any sort before too long. Angel and Faith will hopefully manage to repay the favour for Wesley's warning about The First hunting slayers. Thanks, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 4.11 08/08/2006 07:43 am oh wow....that was some imagery i never thought i'd see...lol...but i guess clem deserves some love, too... lol....i hope buffy finds him in tme, and at least she kind of knows what's going on...next chappie soon please No one expects Clem smut... but I think that's the last of it. Buffy is going to have her work cut out tracking down the errant vamp but I'll let you find out the details as events unfold. Thanks, honey!   MarzBar Chapter 4.11 08/08/2006 02:13 am Go Clem!! So Lily will play sewer rat to save Spike. Kind of a cliffie though. What's up with Faith? You've been reading this long and you expect me to have a conscience about leaving you with a cliffie? Well, even with all the wrinkles, it seemed kinda strange that a guy as sweet as Clem should be on his own. Yeah, Lily will act as Buffy's guide. After all, she probably uses the tunnels as much as Clem. Nothing up with Faith, at least nothing that didn't happen in canon, only this time, that message Wes gave Angel told him about The First's slayer hunt and gave her a heads up. Thanks, honey!   kim Chapter 4.10 08/07/2006 03:01 am Poor hurt puppy...so loyal. Spike's got his own Lassie. Nice effort, Tara, but it just takes too long. They're going to be playing catch-up to get to Spike before Robin does. Yep, that poor puppy has definitely decided that Spike is hers. And, yep, Buffy is going to be playing catch up... more than you could know. Thanks, honey, for taking time to comment.   vladt Chapter 4.10 08/07/2006 01:49 am very good read, thank you. so it is wood? you wouldn't mislead us? yeah, right. rogue still has a part to play. thanks again. love the tale Me? Mislead you? Well, isn't that half the fun, working it out alongside the characters? Yeah, it really is Wood, this time, though. Glad you're enjoying it, and thanks as always for making the effort to comment.   jl1980 Chapter 4.10 08/07/2006 01:01 am oh i'm so worried for spike...hope he doesn't end up hurt...glad buffy knows kind of what's going on now, hope she can stop him or wood before anything really bad happens...great chapter Spike is definitely making things worse for himself, but since he's not entirely rational you can't really blame him. As for who gets where when, I'll let that unfold in its own time. Thanks as always for taking the time to comment.   MarzBar Chapter 4.10 08/07/2006 12:00 am Oh dear. Robin Wood and the First in cahoots against Spike. More story please. lol. More tomorrow as usual and there's enough for around another four months at a chapter a day, so I don't think there's any danger you won't get enough. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 4.09 08/06/2006 01:20 pm very good, thanks. even ill, spike is consistent: stubborn, rash, foolhardy and buffy is going to kill him. Hee! Isn't he just, though I suspect that what Buffy will do with him probably depend just what state he's in when she finds him and how relieved she is to see him by that point. Thanks, as always!   jl1980 Chapter 4.09 08/06/2006 08:04 am so where is he planning on going? he's not in much condition to be moving!! poor spike! i hope they find a solution soon! he shouldn't be going to meet this guy, it's supremely stupid of him...but..*sigh*...rash, impetuous, recklesss....typical spike *sigh* great chapter...more please Spike has every intention of making it to that meeting. Like you say, so stupid, but so very Spike. More tomorrow. Thanks, honey!   kim Chapter 4.09 08/06/2006 05:59 am Spike...ever the self-sacrificing hero...with too much masculine pride for his own good. Love the cat. A familiar? What's in the letter from Lindsey? Do we ever find out? Hee! Boys will be boys, especially stubborn male vamp boys. Rupert is definitely not your average cat but I think he's too independent to really be a familiar. Re the letters, I think you find out, but it's so long since I wrote it that I can't say for sure. Angel's is basically an 'I'll be back so don't get too comfy' warning, while Spike's was more 'Don't get between me and Angel and I'll have no quarrel with you' type thing, but as it turned out, it took me four years to write a couple of months worth of events so he never actually made another appearance.   TalesofSpike Chapter 4.08 08/05/2006 04:56 pm Just testing... It worked.   jl1980 Chapter 4.08 08/05/2006 07:44 am yeah, right!! *that'll* never happen! they've got to know that even if spike was capable of getting there alone, this guy's out to kill him, he's not gonna help him...and the first showing up, that's what the hallucinations are, right? oh spike, hold on!!! buffy needs to get home now!!! this chapter was great and you have me on the edge of my seat!! more please!! Hee! You're forgetting just one thing, the stubbornness of the male vampire... Yep, there's a heck of a lot all happening at once. Unfortunately, Buffy is going to be busy for a little longer. More when I've been to sleep and woken up again.   kim Chapter 4.08 08/05/2006 03:34 am The First is terribly cruel as usual...and Robin's pulling strings. A little bit of the old Willow is still inside...too bad the magic is too strong a lure. Oh, yep, The First is taking full advantage of the fact that Spike may not be entirely rational at the moment, as is its way. Robin, well, less said about him. Even when he was meant to be one of the good guys he creeped me out. And, yeah, good Willow is still there somewhere, but I don't think she's likely to find her own way back.   vladt Chapter 4.08 08/05/2006 12:57 am excellent chapter, including the evil cliffie. thanks for the fine read. Why, thankee, kind sir! Not sure quite why, but being called evil always makes me grin.   jl1980 Chapter 4.07 08/04/2006 07:36 am oh no..poor spike..is this another effect of whatever the poison is? this chapter was excellent, has me on the edge of my seat, can't wait for more Thanks, honey! As to what might be the poison and what might be other forces at work, I'd rather leave it up to the reader to try to draw the line. More tomorrow as usual.   MarzBar Chapter 4.07 08/04/2006 04:07 am Yuck! Whatever is happening to Spike is bad and seems to be moving fast. More story please. Thanks, honey! More tomorrow (well, tomorrow my time) as usual.   kim Chapter 4.07 08/04/2006 02:41 am Yup, this is pointing to all kinds of First torment, especially with the ominous phone call for Giles. Thanks, honey! Well, The First was never one to let an opportunity go by...   vladt Chapter 4.06 08/04/2006 03:05 pm very good read, thanks. re: lqst review. i'll grant spike might be hallucinating, but rogue? Thanks, honey! Lol, yep, it's an outside possibility that Rogue might be reacting to Spike's actions, but I think you already worked out that there are other options that are far more likely.   vladt Chapter 4.06 08/03/2006 01:24 pm very good read, thanks. who do spike and rogue see that no one else does? Thanks again... And are you asking who they see or who they think they see?   jl1980 Chapter 4.06 08/03/2006 07:41 am my goodness, poor spike, delirious and in so much pain..i wonder what exactly willow thought she was accomplishing...i cant wait to see this conversation and what she has to say for herself...another great chapter Thanks, honey! Unfortunately, for now, it's not about to get any better. Hope you rnjoy the next chapter.   kim Chapter 4.06 08/03/2006 01:59 am Interesting... Hallucination, or the First? Considering that the dog knew it was there, too... Hee! Very true... Just have to work out whether the dog is barking because it's reacting to Spike's agitation or because there's something there, or both... but personally, I was never convinced that S7 Spike was ever really insane... at least I have my doubts that his hallucinations were hallucinations.   MarzBar Chapter 4.05 08/02/2006 02:37 am Nice, juicy, shared smutty dreams. WTF has Willow done to Spike's food? Will somebody get to 'splain things to her in a more forceful fashion? Thanks, honey! Glad you liked the dream. As for what Willow has been up to that should be clearer in the next chapter or two.   kim Chapter 4.05 08/02/2006 02:01 am I love the ancient demon warrior concept. Tara got quite the eyeful! Thank you, sweetie! The demon warrior was a favourite idea of mine. As for Tara, yep, I suspect she saw rather more than she had bargained for... Pity, she's probably the last person to appreciate double helpings of Spike.   vladt Chapter 4.05 08/01/2006 10:52 pm wonderful read, wonderful shared dream. thank you. so willow is, at least partial to blame? thanks for the fine read. Thank you again. Glad you liked the dream... as for Willow, the next chapter or two should make things a bit clearer.   jl1980 Chapter 4.05 08/01/2006 10:43 pm grrrr...that makes me so mad at willow! i'm not sure if i should feel better that it's not magic or not...at least tara thought of letting him use the orbs...poor baby, he's not doing so well...great update, very much enjoyed it...can't wait for more Thanks, honey! The orbs should keep things from getting any worse for now, which is just as well at the rate he was deteriorating. Willow? Well, I guess that'll all get worked out in the next chapter or two...   vladt Chapter 4.04 08/01/2006 05:10 pm very good update, even if spike is still tossing blood. good to see tara and dawn keep giles from maaking the calls. thanks for the fine read. Lol... You didn't think that he'd get away with deciding what happens when there were two females in the room, did you? Thanks! Glad you're still enjoying it.   Lou Chapter 4.04 08/01/2006 04:13 pm Time for the big guns! Excellent tension. Thank you, honey. Glad you liked it!   jl1980 Chapter 4.04 08/01/2006 07:29 am i wonder what they're gonna see...i wonder if it's willow or someone else...hmmm...i'm getting so worried for poor spike...this chapter was great though, spike's a typical male, lol... "I'm fine, really...I can barely move of my own accord and I'm in severe pain...but everything's just dandy"...*sigh* MEN! lol Gah! How did I manage not to answer yesterdays comments? Well, I guess by now you know what they saw... And, yep, I took Spike's insistence on sitting up despite several broken bones after being tortured by Glory as an indication that he was your typical man. Thanks, honey!   kim Chapter 4.04 08/01/2006 03:39 am All for one...family to the rescue. That's a pretty nifty trance, especially in the eyes of someone who knows what they're looking at. Giles has really been out of the loop, dumb Watcher. He should have been calling to keep in touch, if he insisted on not being there. Only a few poisons out there would make a vampire burn up. Spike's not going to be happy about taking the cure. Thanks, sweetie! Yep, Giles really doesn't know what's happening, but I have a funny feeling that even if he had been calling there's a lot of stuff which wouldn't have been said. Actually, even if he'd still been in Sunnydale there are a lot of things they probably wouldn't have told him. As for anything else, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when they do their trance thing... lol.   vladt Chapter 4.03 07/31/2006 05:22 pm very good read. thank you. love the thought on the card accompanying the diamonds. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.   jl1980 Chapter 4.03 07/31/2006 07:58 am poor spike...i wonder who's doing that to him...and he sure cant get better if he cant keep anything down...*sigh*...anxiously waiting for your next update Thanks, honey! Definitely poor Spike... They really need to find out what's causing it so they can try to fix it.   Lou Chapter 4.03 07/31/2006 07:40 am Do we know what's causing this? I've forgotten! At the moment there are several theories, but none of the good guys know what's going on.   kim Chapter 4.03 07/31/2006 04:14 am Poor Spike...only gets a few hours before his stomach's revolting again. Love "The Princess Bride". Such a classic. I'm sure Dawn made Spike watch it over and over when Buffy was dead. Diamonds at 15...sigh...and Tara gets some good cozy feelings, too. I love the family vibe. Thanks, honey! Spike's definitely not having an easy time of it. For years, The Princess Bride was my feeling poorly film. Any time I was feeling crappy, it was crawl under the duvet and stick that in the VCR. Diamonds at 15 - definite sigh. Psycho bitches doing everything bar disect you - not so cool, Don't think I would like to say that they balance out, but hopefully the diamonds will help. And, yep, Tara is definitely family. She'll get the message eventually... Thanks again.   Lou Chapter 4.02 07/30/2006 08:18 pm What a way to sort things out!! Divine. Thank you, honey! I'm glad you liked it.   kim Chapter 4.02 07/30/2006 06:52 pm Ah, Buffy...still not understanding the vampire side of life. Open mouth and insert foot, eh? Lol! She'll work it out eventually (I hope)! Thanks, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 4.02 07/30/2006 08:31 am i love those sweet moments in between for them, too...your spuffy sexy scenes are so well done, but i'm a sap for the romantic, deep intimate talks and such.....and this chapter was very moving...good job Thanks, honey! You're perfectly right (IMO). As S6 proved, sex alone isn't anything like enough. It's those other moments that really bind the pair of them together.   MarzBar Chapter 4.02 07/30/2006 03:43 am Nice, sweet lovemaking. Thanks, honey!   Athenewolfe Chapter 4.01 08/08/2006 03:48 pm Wonderful Spuffy scene. What a wonderful scene to start section four with. I adored it!   Lou Chapter 4.01 07/29/2006 12:09 pm You excelled yourself this time. Beautiful chapter. Thank you, honey. I'm glad you liked it.   jl1980 Chapter 4.01 07/29/2006 09:50 am wow...that was hot, and powerfully deep and emotional...you're really building up the tension though with this whole sickness thing...i've got this scared little knot in my stomach for spike....great update, looking forward to more Thanks, honey! I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's going to take a little time before Spike's illness is resolved, and meantime things aren't going to be fun for either of our heroes.   kim Chapter 4.01 07/29/2006 12:58 am From family teasing, to hot bathtime fun...whoo! I'd say they need to get a room, but even when they're in it, everybody already knows what's going on! Awww...Dawn's got her little fairytale high school romance. Every girl's first boyfriend should make them light up like that. I doubt Spike and Buffy are going to win any prizes for being discreet. And, yeah, Dawn soooo deserved that with all the crap she has in her life. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 4.01 07/29/2006 12:00 am wonderful read. thank you. love buffy's attitude, and dawn's questioning. thanks again. And ditto to what I said before... Guess the system is playing up again.   vladt Chapter 4.01 07/28/2006 11:57 pm wonderful read. thank you. love buffy's attitude, and dawn's questioning. thanks again. Thank you! I somehow can't imagine Buffy being a patient nurse in general, but there are things she can manage. As for Dawn, when Spike has the urge to protect her from things he should remember what he told Buffy about trying to hide the fact Dawn was the Key. He might gain a day or two, but anything beyond that and she's going to have it all worked out.   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.07 08/08/2006 11:57 am A lovely ending to section 3. I love Be/Rupert. Very nicely done. I love the nude pictures comments - very funny! Looking forward to starting the next section once I catch up on my work (bah work!) lol but it is nice to know I have this wonderful story to look forward to! Thank you, honey! I'm sure the story will still be there when your work is done. If it helps any, the next section has nineteen chapters, so it'll be complete by Wednesday next week. It'll be good to hear from you again when you get the chance to catch up.   jl1980 Chapter 3.07 07/28/2006 08:29 pm there's something kinda hot about the idea of buffy and spike posing nude...lol...and bea and giles are so made for each other! lol great chapter Gah! You're all obsessed... ;) Bee and Giles. I guess time will tell whether it's more of a Giles/Jenny sort of thing or a Giles/Maggie Walsh situation.   vladt Chapter 3.07 07/28/2006 03:19 pm wonderful read, thank tou must have a print for the christmas present.vreu funny Thank you! Trust Buffy to put her foot in it... It'd be interesting to see Angel's face.   MarzBar Chapter 3.07 07/28/2006 10:10 am Do you know anybody who is actually painting nude Spuffy pics, preferably with Spike 'prominently' featured? Fun party. LOL! No, I'm afraid not. Thanks, honey!   Lou Chapter 3.07 07/28/2006 03:13 am They'd never be able to keep still while posing! LOL! Perhaps not! Thanks, honey!   kim Chapter 3.07 07/28/2006 12:51 am Ha ha ha ha ha....! LOL... I really wouldn't want Bee mad at me. Dawn and Brandon are just the cutest. And Buffy's embarrassed herself again! Thanks, honey! No a mad Bee is not a good thing. Dawn kinda deserves to have someone like Brandon 'round about now. She's definitely due some good stuff to balance out the bad. And, well, you can't miss as much school as Buffy did without the odd word slipping by you.   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.06 08/08/2006 11:52 am excellant chapter - I can't wait to see the interaction between Wes's dad and Marie. They have got to meet! Love the story so far - great interactions between the characters. Excellant story Thanks, honey! Strangely Roger and Marie eventually will meet, but not for some time. Glad you're still enjoying the story.   vladt Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 07:13 pm great update. love tara, love spike being a "Lovable ass" ang giles just being an ass. love the read, thank you Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it all!   jl1980 Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 06:54 am ooh...i'm sensing a connection here (not that it's hard) between giles and bee...that could be cute...she's fiery enough for him... love spike's overprotectiveness and lily's assessment of brandon...great chapter Thanks, honey! Giles and Bee definitely strike sparks off each other. Spike... is just Spike and Lily is generally on the money. Glad you liked it.   MarzBar Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 02:52 am Loved the Bee/Giles dialogue. She told him off good and proper. Thanks, honey! Giles just didn't have a chance...   Lou Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 02:49 am Oh dear, Giles - revealing the small-minded Englishman is never attractive! Thanks, honey! In a way you can't blame him for defending what has been the bulk of his life, not to mention his father and grandmother? before that but he should know when it's a lost cause.   kim Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 02:01 am Well, babbling about Knox, I can forgive Fred for, since they all had their memories drastically changed from anything that related to Connor, Jasmine, etc. There was a ton of stuff that was wiped clean, including incidents that happened because they branched off from the Connor stuff. Whole different friendship threads. I saw Fred as not being secure enough to stand up to the others when it came to Wes' 'betrayal'. That happened less than a year after she came out of Pylea a terrified, babbling mess. So, going against Angel's opinion, who she saw as her savior, vs. Wes? Wasn't really much of a contest when she was that out-numbered already. The other three all had much stronger personalities than her. That all makes sense I guess or it would if she hadn't been the one to pass on the news, but my impression at the time I watched the ep was that she was joining in the condemnation.   kim Chapter 3.06 07/27/2006 01:52 am Sparks fly between Giles and and Bee, again! She's got him really outclassed in the arguing. Brandon's definitely the human Spike...which is pretty flattering, all around. And Wes and Marie...awwwww...it's nice seeing them connect. Thanks, honey! Giles is pretty much on a hiding to nothing when it comes to defending the council. Hee! Sorta stood to reason that the Summers women would have similar taste when it came right down to it. And, well, Wes and Marie have a lot of common ground.   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.05 08/08/2006 11:41 am great chapter - i loved the interaction between the characters Be/Rupert would make a nice pairing along with Wes/Marie. I like them - any hope for someone special for Tara - she needs someone special to warm her heart. Great story! Bee and Rupert are one of those pairs that could compliment each other or they might just drive each other insane. There will be someone for Tara, but she needs some time to get over Willow first, so you're going to have to wait till pretty near the end of Angels and Demons before you find out who it might be. Thanks, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 3.05 07/26/2006 11:09 pm i love little matchmaking rosa!! so sweet! and i'm so worried for spike...well i've made my way through all you've got posted, and can't wait for you to post more! i think i will wait and read it as it comes up here from now on though...give me a chance to catch up a bit lol...this is a fantastic story and i'm thoroughly enjoying it...update soon! The next chapter is already up. It's normally the first thing I do each day... That or get coffee. At a chapter a day, we should get to the end of Angels and Demons in just over four months. Rosa... well, I love Rosa. She is going to be sooo much trouble when she hits the teen years, but fortunately, that's well beyond the scope of these fics. Spike... you know that saying about things getting worse before they get better?   vladt Chapter 3.05 07/26/2006 02:44 pm rosa is force to be watched. great read. thank you Hee! Thank you! Yep, Wes is going to have his work cut out.   MarzBar Chapter 3.05 07/26/2006 10:00 am Rosa steals the show again! She's a smart little bit. Great party for everybody so far. More story please. Rosa is definitely a scenestealer. Glad you're enjoying it. Thanks, honey!   Lou Chapter 3.05 07/26/2006 06:16 am Go for it, Wes. High time you got over Fred! Thanks, honey! Hee! I think maybe you feel the same way about Fred as I do. After the scene when Wes was in hospital I could just never buy the sweet and innocent routine. It always seemed a big put on, especially when she was meant to be so completely oblivious to Wes's feelings for her, but everybody else knew. She conveniently forgot she wasn't talking to him when she got Wes to help her kill the professor. I wanted to slap her silly when she started bibbling on about Knox to the poor guy. If it wasn't for the fact she was the only one who helped Spike at all when he came back, I'd call her a manipulative bitch... and, of course, this was all written before she was nice to Spike.   kim Chapter 3.05 07/26/2006 03:17 am Yes, Wesley, there is a conspiracy against you, but only of the best kind. Rosa really is well beyond her years. I'd definitely say she's as bad as Lily. Spike cursed...oh, dear. Very not good. Poisons are evil! Who's Lori, again, in relation to the others? I've forgotten. Hee! Yep, Wes is doomed... Rosa, not only is potentially the most psychically gifted of her family, but she's spent all her life around adults so she can often seem to flick between five and fifty. Yep, Spike is not having the best of times. Lori is Marie's PA. She helped out with the research side of things in LA when Spike and Lorne were kidnapped, but I don't think she plays a major part in any of the things that are to come (though don't quote me on that as my memory is notoriously bad).   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.04 08/08/2006 11:35 am very nice chapter = I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to see where you take this attack on spike, great story! Thank you, honey! I'm glad you're enjoying the tale. Best way to find out where things go with Spike is to keep reading.   jl1980 Chapter 3.04 07/26/2006 11:02 pm hmmm...what's up with wes?? just awkwardness from the matchmaking deal? and i'm really scared for spike...i wonder if it is willow doing it or someone else...great chapter, on to more Poor Wes has every right to feel like all the world is conspiring against him. Most of them are. Spike's pretty sure that it's Willow. Buffy has her money on Wood, and there's always a chance that they might both be wrong... Glad you're still enjoying it. Thanks again!   vladt Chapter 3.04 07/25/2006 02:06 pm excellent chapter. poor wes, or maybe not. Thanks, honey! I'll let you decide whether it's poor Wes or not when you see how things work out.   kim Chapter 3.04 07/25/2006 01:11 pm Awwwww, Wes is sunk...he has no chance against the matchmaking, LOL. Spike...typical man when he's sick... At least the kids have been having a real good time. Wes is sunk... So is Marie... but they may take a while to work it out. Hee, well, when it comes to testosterone Spike has plenty, so no surprise that he acts like a typical man, only more so. And, yeah, the kids got to have a good night out. Goodness only knows Dawn deserved it. Thank you!   Lou Chapter 3.04 07/25/2006 04:29 am Nice party - but don't like what's happening to Spike! Bad mojo! Thanks, honey! Vampires getting ill is never good news (well, as long as you like the vampire in question)...   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.03 08/08/2006 11:30 am I love Xander stoned on brownies - that was absolutly brilliant. great chapter - anxiously awaiting spike related news. Really good chapter Thank you, honey! It's definitely one of Xander's most amiable mments. Glad you liked it. The Spike situation will take some time to resolve, but should be sorted by the end of Section 4.   jl1980 Chapter 3.03 07/26/2006 10:55 pm oh no...where's spike? I hope he's okay...i'm getting the scary feeling from the bus depot again...sympathy pains in her stomach sounds familiar...xander gettign stoned was pretty hilarious though...on to read more Thanks, honey! I guess you know where Spike was, and yeah, several people have suggested that it may be an idea to keep Xander stoned at all times. Hugs.   MarzBar Chapter 3.03 07/24/2006 06:14 pm Eeek! Cliffie with a hurt Spike. Good to see Xander remains clueless about most everything. More story please. Cliffie sort of resolved now. As for Xander, unless I some day write a fic where Maggie Walsh captures him and swaps his brain for that of an intelligent deomon, he'll probably stay clueless, though in Xander's case even a Fyarl brain might class as an upgrade. The next chapter is up now. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 3.03 07/24/2006 01:28 pm great read, thank you. maybe anya should keep xander stoned? he does do less harm that way. Hee! If only! It certainly seems to make him less obnoxious, but Anya would probably get upset if he sawed his fingers off or something... Thank you!   kim Chapter 3.03 07/24/2006 03:02 am Spike's in pain somewhere?? Where did he go? Xander's hilarious stoned...ya know, maybe one little joint a day would help him a lot. I don't normally advocate that kind of thing, but the dude needs some kind of meds. ;) And thank goodness for Lily - Giles so needed to hear that! And yeah, I do like Bee so far. She's fun. What's wrong with Spike???? Thank you, honey! As for Spike, you'll find out where he is, what's happening and his own personal theory on what's causing it tomorrow. Giles definitely needed a grown up to talk to. As for Xander, you're right. It could be just what he needs, but by the time Anya has him drinking salted water and throwing his guts up, I don't think he'll be up for a repeat performance. Glad you're liking Bee. As you've probably guessed she's about to become the junior partner in Wes's PI business, so she'll be around quite a bit.   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.02 08/07/2006 08:42 pm LMAO i loved the meeting between the Rupart's and can see an *interesting* fate awaiting Xander. Shakes head! Hee! So typical of Spike to know exactly what was coming on the Rupert front and to just stand back and watch. Xander could be in for a 'fun' night... Thanks again, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 3.02 07/26/2006 10:49 pm lol..the bit with "rupie-bear" was hilarious...very excellent chapter...love the party so far...very good stuff...can't wait to see how the evening progresses Thank you, honey! I'm afraid the watchers are probably going to get the worst of things here, but I guess you'll find that out as the evening goes on.   vladt Chapter 3.02 07/23/2006 10:43 pm fun read, thank you. seems any normal family gathering except noone would invite xander. Thanks again! And sure they'd invite Xander, he'd just be the embarrassing relative that everyone avoids.   Lou Chapter 3.02 07/23/2006 06:21 pm Sweet chapter, but isn't Xander awful! Thanks, honey! And, yes, to anyone outside the brain of Xander he's completely inexcusable.   kim Chapter 3.02 07/22/2006 11:33 pm Yep, Giles definitely needs a woman. I've often been fond of Giles/Anya fics. That was hysterical with the cat. I was just waiting for the name mistake to be made! Xander's an ass. Just grow up and eat, already! And I'd love to know what Tara and Lily are talking about. I'm guessing it's Willow related, but it'd be nice to be in the know. Thanks, honey! Yep, Giles needs a woman, definitely. He gets far too stuffy when there isn't a woman around to help him keep his feet on the ground. I, too, have a definite soft-spot for the Giles/Anya having written a series of G/A ficlets. (http://www.he-s-no-angel.net/9GA/GA0T.htm if my memory works and I haven't made any typos.) In fact, chances are if I had known SWBD was going to have sequels I would probably never have had Anya and Xander make up. I was even very tempted when I was writing the final battle to rectify that and leave the way open for Giles to console Anya in her moment of grief but my beta talked me out of it. Xander? He'll learn the hard way, as always... Can't remember until I proof the next chapter whether we find out what T & L are saying, but it's safe to assume that Lily picked up on Tara's grieving for Willow and is doing her best to help.   Athenewolfe Chapter 3.01 08/07/2006 08:38 pm This chapter was very funny. I loved the special brownies and the cat named Rupart. Still wondering when Xander will ever grow up. I hope he does before the story ends. It would be nice to see... either that or he needs to be beat up lol - his racism makes me want to strangle him. great chapter~ Thanks, honey! Let's just say that by the end there is definite Xander progress...   jl1980 Chapter 3.01 07/26/2006 10:25 pm i love seeing everybody's preparations for the party...so good...i got that nervous excited feeling like i'm actually *going* to the party...and is it just me or might tara actually find someone at this party? ;) great chapter Thanks, honey! As for Tara, I think she needs some time to heal before she's going to be ready for another relationship - one of the big drawbacks of the huge amount of chapters covering what's actually a relatively short time in the 'verse is that it can seem like things have taken longer than they have.   vladt Chapter 3.01 07/23/2006 10:18 pm very fine update.don't know if i pity wes or envy him. if there are an dull moments at this party, i am sure bee will liven things up. thanks for the fun read. LOL! I don't think Wes is too sure on that himself... and, hopefully, the party will be anything but dull. Thanks again!   MarzBar Chapter 3.01 07/22/2006 01:52 pm Woohoo! I'm looking forward to this party! Thanks, honey! Here's hoping it lives up to expectations...   kim Chapter 3.01 07/22/2006 03:28 am Sounds like fun! Xander's still being an idiot...sometimes he's just too literal. Love the teasing, of course. And Bee is quite an interesting friend! Thank you, honey! Xander's still being an idiot Unfortunately, even though Anya might eventually train him out of his more bigoted tendencies, there's nothing she can do about his IQ, so I'm afraid it can't be helped. He'll always be an idiot. Poor Wes, being sacrificied up like the slaughtered lamb. As for Bee, she'll be around for the rest of the story. It actually feels quite strange from my perspective to realse that we were so far through the fourth book before she made her first appearance. Hope you like her as you get to see more of her.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.17 08/07/2006 08:33 pm ohhh very nice chapter = I enjoyed it very much! Thank you, honey! I'm glad you liked it.   jl1980 Chapter 2.17 07/26/2006 10:17 pm i really enjoyed spike's talk with tara, his assessment of why willow turned out as she did was very perceptive and had the ring of truth to it....very good chapter Thanks, honey! I'm glad you thought that it felt right. I love my Spike and Tara moments though there aren't as many of them in the fic as I might like once The First gets to work properly.   vladt Chapter 2.17 07/23/2006 10:01 pm sweet read, thank you. maybe wes wasn't 100% correct. just maybe. Thanks! maybe wes wasn't 100% correct Well, I have to admit that if I get called evil for something I've written, I'm normally a very happy bunny, but as far as everything else goes, I'd hope I'm okay... and most of the female cast here are pretty much the same. They have their moments, but in general they're okay people.   kim Chapter 2.17 07/20/2006 07:04 pm Awwwww, lots of warm fuzzies! Love it, love it, love it. Thanks, honey! It's definitely one of the less tense moments in the fic.   Lou Chapter 2.17 07/20/2006 05:13 pm I think Anya will be needing more than a leash! Quite possibly, honey! Thank you!   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.16 08/07/2006 08:26 pm that was so adrorable - I loved the Rosa section when she is excited about being a flower girl without even knowing what it is. I loved Anya's sense of humor and telling Wes she was going to turn him into a woman, and Brandon's discomfort. Excellant chapters! Thank you, honey! Definitely one of my favourite Anya moments from the series there... and well, Rosa almost always seems to steal the show.   jl1980 Chapter 2.16 07/26/2006 10:10 pm i love rosa...she's so adorable...okay, brandon's gonna be okay now, isn't he? how could he help it after meeting her? so sweet...love this chapter...and ps. love anya and co. torturing brandon and wes getting a bit of insight into the evil that is women, of which i am proud to be a part ;) lol Thanks, honey! I think Brandon got off pretty light considering the patron saint of scorned women was in the room. Rosa should help a lot when it comes to helping Brandon get things in perspective.   vladt Chapter 2.16 07/21/2006 04:30 pm wonderful read, thanks. have to agree with wes. love the scene with rosa. thanks, again. Thank you! We women aren't all that bad really, are we? Rosa is a scene-stealer, but a kiddy-demon wasn't something they were ever likely to actually show on BtVS (though I believe they did it once on AtS) as it might make people think a little more about all those demons Buffy killed and whether they were anyone's mum/dad. Fanfic gives us a bit more leeway.   Lou Chapter 2.16 07/20/2006 07:23 am Brandon doesn't stand a chance before this charm offensive! Too true, honey. Thank you!   MarzBar Chapter 2.16 07/20/2006 02:47 am Rosa stole the scene from everybody else. Thanks, honey! She has this tendency to do that, somehow.   kim Chapter 2.16 07/20/2006 02:21 am Cute!!!!! You so got the child-logic right. Anya is fast becoming my favorite speaker right now - hilarious!! Poor Brandon, poor Wes...just brilliant. My one foray as part of a wedding was as flower girl. It was fun, and the dress got a lot of mileage afterwards. Thanks, honey! Rosa is one of my fave OCs... as you will probably continue to discover. As for Anya you don't spend a thousand years as the patron saint of scorned women without picking up a thing or two about how to keep men in line. Apart from the obvious, which I could barely remember even the next day, I think it's best not to go into me and wedding parties...   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.15 08/07/2006 08:20 pm LOL at least he has the sense to know he needs to fix this and pronto! *shakes head and men* geesh! He needs to grovel and grovel well Yep, men! But at least Spike was there to remind him he needed to make things right, so they're not all bad. Thanks, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 2.15 07/26/2006 10:03 pm nice one, spike...i like the way he managed to get brandon to focus on dawn's feelings rather than his own and understand how he must have hurt her....i'm feeling relief over how the fight turned out...but still got a sense of impending doom...something bad's gonna happen, isn't it? Let's just say that Spike's stomach problems are not of the good. Spike's pretty good at looking after the people he loves, even if it's a case of making their boyfriends see sense. Thanks again!   vladt Chapter 2.15 07/19/2006 07:18 pm very good read. thank you. loved spike bring brandon back to the important thing, "Bit's had a hell of a rough week. I reckon by now, she's probably past the breakin' her heart stage and 'round about wondering if his liver really would go with a nice Chianti." loved it, thanks again Yep, Spike will do whatever it takes to take care of his women... Thank you!   Lou Chapter 2.15 07/19/2006 07:28 am Excellent action sequence - and nice little putdown for Brandon. Thank you, honey! And I think maybe Spike can see enough of himself in Brandon to know when to remind him of his priorities.   MarzBar Chapter 2.15 07/19/2006 02:00 am It seems like Brandon will have a change of heart now. Spike's rant about Summers women and their revenge tactics may turn things around. Hee, yep, thanks, honey! Dawn really did pick herself a sort of younger human Spike... Fly off the handle, over-react, but as soon as he realises he's mucked up with his girl, it's off to apologise.   kim Chapter 2.15 07/19/2006 01:31 am Love how you write the fight scenes. You have Spike's movements exactly right. Good to see Brandon calming and turning around, in the face of proof. Plus, he tried to be brave and save the girl, which he basically did, since it got her released from the vampire's hold. Dawn's going to have words for him, I'm sure. And sleep? I only really have peace in the house in the middle of the night, so if I do sleep, it's during the day. You could say that I run on vamp hours. ;) Thank you, honey! That means a lot. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I hate writing fights (second only to writing sex scenes), but normally the reaction they get turns out to be worth the effort. Yep, Brandon is one of the good guys. He may resent the situation he's been put into, but he's not the sort to stand to one side if he thinks someone is in danger and he can help. Ahhh! I have phases like that, though, touch wood, I seem to be managing something more like normal lately apart from waking up kinda early and needing an afternoon snooze. It's not so bad when I end up sleeping while hubby's at work and being awake all night, but it gets to be a real pain when I'm awake all the time he's at work and half the night, but I'm asleep the entire time he's at home and awake.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.14 08/07/2006 07:09 pm Oh oh - I forgot about the stich he got. I now am full on worried about the "stich" and hope Brandon wakes up and pays attention to the important things - like Dawn. Very good chapter! Hee! Evil grin. Brandon will work it out... with a little help. Thanks, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 2.14 07/26/2006 09:56 pm okay i have a bad feeling about spike's "stitch"...what's up with that? and this fight could turn out to be pretty bad...hope they're able to straighten things out with brandon, too...great chapter! on to more You catch on quick. Spike's stitch is indeed the first sign of some very bad business, but you'll find out what's going on there in time. Brandon is the easier problem. Thanks again, honey!   Lou Chapter 2.14 07/19/2006 05:29 am Spike has indigestion!! Ha! Thanks, honey! Yep, Spike has indigestion but it might turn out not to be so funny.   vladt Chapter 2.14 07/18/2006 08:45 pm excellent read, as usual. thank you. brandon maybe about to witness what sunnydale is all about. what's with spike? Thanks! Yep, Spike is right on the money about it being just what Brandon needs to get some perspective.   kim Chapter 2.14 07/18/2006 04:33 am Now that I don't have someone looking over my shoulder, I can finish my review (nosy boyfriends - bleh). Loved the dig at Wes. OMG hysterical!!!! And Anya just keeps going and going with it, not realizing that she's spoiling the whole intent... I hope Brandon will be able to peer around a corner and watch Buffy in action. Though, considering that he's mad about being brought into crazy crap in the first place, it might not matter that he believes what they said, because some people just can't handle being around that life, anyway. Hee! I can identify with that. I always find I get absolutely nothing written once hubby gets home from work. I love Anya, she can be so wise one minute and then the next minute she does something that reminds you just how alien this whole human existence still is to her. Brandon? Shall let you find out next chapter as I can't think of any other way to reply that doesn't involve spoilers. Thanks again, sweetie! And shouldn't you be asleep?   MarzBar Chapter 2.14 07/18/2006 03:14 am Am I seriously blonde for not knowing WTF Brandon's father is or who he is working for? Loved the Crazy Larry dialogue but I'm worried about Spike. More story please. Nope, not really... It was mentioned in Ring of Fire, but that's probably about a month ago, and if you're reading a lot of WIPs... Andrew Michaels used to be in the army, but he's just a teacher now, working at whatever school Dawn was sent to while Sunnydale High is out of commission. However, he does have friends, including Brandon's godfather, who are still in the military, and it was Brandon's godfather who asked Andrew to take a job in the Sunnydale area and keep an eye open for anything out of the ordinary, having heard hints that someone was following on from The Initiative's work, despite the fact it was meant to have been closed down.   kim Chapter 2.14 07/18/2006 01:59 am Good stuff...can't blame the boy for being shell-shocked. Quite a far-out story, under normal circumstances. Spike getting a stitch, eh? Unusual... Yep, the Scoobies all came face to face with vamps etc. in ways where they had to accept it. Brandon's sort of found himself, from his point of view, in the middle of a bunch of lunatics. Spike getting a stitch, eh? Unusual... Isn't it? Evil grin! Thanks, honey!   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.13 08/07/2006 07:00 pm I liked this chapter and the telling of Dawn's boyfriend of what is up. Rather nervous to see his reaction to it - poor Dawny she must be tied in knots. Really good chappie, lovely emotion. I am enjoying this fic and this chapter - greatly! Thanks, honey! It's just hard to imagine Spike doing anything half-heartedly. You just know he'd put on a show.   jl1980 Chapter 2.13 07/26/2006 09:41 pm i love spike's big presentation...so cool, and very well done...wonder how brandon's gonna take it You know Spike once he gets on a roll... And I guess you know already about Brandon's minor freak out. Thanks again!   vladt Chapter 2.13 07/17/2006 02:28 pm love the update. fantastic spike monologue. thanks for the fine read. Thanks, honey! Glad you liked it.   kim Chapter 2.13 07/17/2006 04:43 am No problem with the site tonight. Sorry it's acting up for you. "Ring of Fire" has popped up again, and some of those updates you mentioned are stuck on it. Thanks, honey! Deleted them off now. No idea if that was down to those fatal errors I kept getting making things go wonky, or if the manage stories page was loading so slowly that I was missing Broken Things, Unfinished Business and Fumbling Towards Ecstasy without realising, so when I scrolled to the bottom to add a new chapter I was getting Ring of Fire instead, but I would have thought I'd have noticed the title and the fact there were wayyy more chapters. Confused... Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter anyway.   kim Chapter 2.13 07/17/2006 02:34 am Well, that's one way to tell him... Spike, ever the drama queen. I'm sure the boy has lots of questions... Gah! I hope you haven't been having as many problems with the site as I have this morning. It took about six attempts to get the chapter to upload and now I'm getting more errors when I try to reply... Spike and Angel both try to insist they have nothing in common, but as you say, drama queen. The boy does like to make an impression... and if that means Brandon might think even harder before he'd do wrong by Dawn, then I guess that's an added bonus, as far as Spike's concerned. I'm pretty sure Brandon will have a thing or two that he wants to ask, but it's quite a while since I read this bit and I'll remember better when I've proofed the next chapter. And this time I'm going to remember to copy all this before I hit the submit button...   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.12 07/30/2006 08:24 pm Love this chapter! Okay the last one I can read before I go to bed - this story is soooooo addicting. I meant just to read a few chapters and then the next thing you know I am lost in the story you are weaving. Excellant story - telling. It is amazing. I really really love it! Thanks, honey! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much, and it's times like this that make me glad it's no longer a WIP because now you can get as caught up in it as you want and just keep reading all the way through to its natural conclusion.   jl1980 Chapter 2.12 07/26/2006 09:22 pm that was hilarious...i love that phone conversation...poor angel....and on a sadder note, poor poor dawnie...she's still hurting so bad...on to more now Yep, Dawnie never really does have time to get over things in the timeframe of the story, but things are going to get so busy soon that she's not going to have time to dwell. And, yep, yet again, I fail to resist setting Angel up to look like an idiot. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 2.12 07/16/2006 09:13 pm that was fun. thank you especially enjoyed, in no particular order(on the hilarity scale) anya telling off xander; buffy baitng angel;"I'd have to castrate you;" and "Left him in the dust back in LA." great read, thank you again. Thank you, honey! As you'll find if you can access the new chapter (I say, if because it took about six attemppts to upload it - do hope I don't look later and find it repeated over and over...) that much of the fun was down to an idea my beta t_geyer had, so I can't take all the credit, but I'm really glad that you enjoyed how it turned out. For out and out funny, I think that has to be one of my favourite chapters in the whole series. Thank you!   kim Chapter 2.12 07/16/2006 03:13 am *cackles hysterically* Don't make me laugh so hard! It makes me cough...LOLOLOLOLOL... I love this story, really do, and I love that you update like clockwork. I can look between midnight and 1 AM my time, and there's a new chapter. Fancy dinner with Angel, eh? Wow, things have really changed. Everybody's growing up... Love Anya telling Xander off, again. Cracks me up, every time. It's funny, in James' Q & A post today, one of his answers was about how you can't walk the way he did in the coat, without the coat, and not look silly. Tara's right - you just have to act Bad. Thanks, honey! As I think I told you yesterday, much of the credit for this bit has to go to my beta, but it's just so much fun to play with Clueless Angel. As for the updates, I'm not anything like as conscientious with the ones I'm in the process writing, but since this one is complete, all I have to do is check for typos that were missed first time, or ellipses that somewhere in all the file conversions have ended up as full-stops and post it up, and I've kind of got into the habit of doing it first thing when I wake up, sometimes even before coffee. Angel and Spike? - I guess the women are civilising influences. Anya is smart enough to know if she doesn't break Xander of his bad habits now, then twenty years down the line, she'll bear a marked resemblance to his mother. Guess he's damn lucky she thinks he's worth the effort. Hee! That coat has a lot to answer for! Thanks again!   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.11 07/30/2006 08:03 pm i love this chapter! Thank you, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 2.11 07/26/2006 07:06 pm oh i wish angel would just mind his own freakin' business! grr! he is so far off on all of his ideas and he makes me so mad that he thinks he's got to butt in...lol..rant over now...great chapter LOL! Thanks, honey! Well, as Buffy points out in the next chapter, there's one idea that he did have right, and if he thought his not quite friends were under the influence of a spell, then he did kinda have good reason to butt in... but clueless Angel is just fun!   MarzBar Chapter 2.11 07/16/2006 01:42 am It's interesting what will keep Angelus busy for a while. Will he find help from his phone call? Thanks, honey! You should ve able to fund out just as soon as I get that first cup of coffee down my neck and get the update done.   vladt Chapter 2.11 07/15/2006 12:45 pm good update. angel is an idiot. thanks for the fine read. Thank you! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Further idiocy next chapter.   kim Chapter 2.11 07/15/2006 02:52 am Oh, too funny...he can't figure out what's going on. I can see Wes and Tara becoming very good friends. Such a shame that the whole LA group decided to treat him like a pariah. Wonder what Lindsey's message is? Thank you, honey! You know me. Any chance to pick on Angel... though credit for this particular humiliation should really go to my beta (and I have a feeling she does get a credit for it, though maybe a few chapters later than it should really have appeared). As things turned out, I can't think of a huge number of specifically Wes & Tara scenes, but both of them end up being integral parts of the group. Lindsey's message(s) will, eventually be revealed, but it's (or they're) not of immediate importance.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.10 07/30/2006 07:21 pm OHhhh I hope that everything works out with the social worker - but when has Spike ever met a woman he can't charm when he puts his mind to it; one look at his hot bod and she will love buffy's fiance. Wonderful Wonderful chapter! LOL! when has Spike ever met a woman he can't charm when he puts his mind to it? Ehm, the last social worker... Darla... But, you're right, most women would be falling over themselves.   jl1980 Chapter 2.10 07/26/2006 06:50 pm awww...i'm glad everything's okay with them again, that had me emotionally on edge...lol...great update, love all their plans and all and the "conversation that wasn't" with giles...great stuff. more now Thanks, honey! Hee! Had to do the go back and read the chapter thing to work out what you meant by the conversation that wasn't... so much for my medium term memory! Anyway, glad you enjoyed it, sweetie. Hugs!   vladt Chapter 2.10 07/14/2006 05:39 pm very good update, very god read, thanks. loved the ending line. thanks again. Thanks! I'd call you a big softie for liking the last line but goodness knows what that would make me for writing it. Glad you're still keeping ploughing on through the epic.   Lou Chapter 2.10 07/14/2006 03:17 pm This is going far too smoothly! What? You think I can't let them have a chapter or two of peace and quiet now and again... Me stir things up? Thanks, honey!   kim Chapter 2.10 07/14/2006 03:38 am And really, the heads of the household should have the master bedroom. That's what happens when you own a house. They should really think about replacing the glass with necro-tinted windows. Good of Spike to bring that up with Giles. The Watcher needs to consider that. He really needed to pick one role and stick with it, since he was kinda crappy at combining father/Watcher. I don't blame Spike's attitude towards Robin, either. If the man is sounding that insulting when talking about them, then it's reasonable to think of him first as a maximum threat, then downgrade when/if necessary. A human doesn't have to be strong to hurt a Slayer, just smart. She's perfectly susceptible to a gunshot to the heart. Thanks, honey! Willow keeping Joyce's room after Tara moved out was one of the many, many things that bugged me about S6, but then I guess it just fitted in with Willow's completely arrogant and self-absorbed attitude that season. I'm not sure how widely available or how expensive necro-tinted glass was meant to be. Certainly, even after Angel discovered it existed in AtS S1 he didn't rush out and get the AI offices done, so I'm thinking either wayyy expensive or only available if you have the right contacts (possibly very dubious ones since the only place (that I remember) to have it in canon is W & H). Even the wealthy vamp that Angel ended up pushing out of W&H's windows had gone for the heavy drapes option. You know Spike... If it's to Buffy's benefit or if it comes to keeping her safe, even if it means doing things she personally might balk at, he'll be there.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.09 07/30/2006 06:50 pm LMAO - great line sweetie - I loved it - Is there anyone remotely connected to the Council whose family members you haven't killed?" Love it! Great chappie! Thanks, honey! That Christopher Golden has a lot to answer for... Well, him and the fact that watchers are so inbred.   jl1980 Chapter 2.09 07/25/2006 11:34 pm okay, so now they know the connection...i have to say as mad as i am at willow, i appreciate her telling xander that spike's not a danger...maybe it'll help him come to his senses...great chapter Xander? Come to his senses? Bwa ha haaa! Wouldn't he need some senses first? Thanks, honey   vladt Chapter 2.09 07/13/2006 09:35 pm fun update to a great tale. xander could not be a bigger idiot. love what you have done with anya. thanks for the great read and the very funny last line. Thanks, honey! I figure if Anya had had one real friend (where things didn't get confused by sex issues) the scenario where she broke up with Xander could have gone so much better for her. Glad you haven't got bored yet.   Linds Chapter 2.09 07/13/2006 03:30 pm more please!!!!! There's plenty more to come. I'll be continuing to post here most days, but if that isn't quick enough for you, you can pick up the remainder of this book at He's No Angel if I remembered the URL correctly along with the final and concluding book in the series, Angels and Demons, and there are even a few post series ficlets.   Lou Chapter 2.09 07/13/2006 07:38 am I can never have too much Xander bashing - maybe he's infected with a bigot bug but then it wouldn't just be Spike copping the flak! What a monster. Thanks, honey! There was just no way I could see Xander acting in a rational manner when he got that bit of news.   kim Chapter 2.09 07/13/2006 04:31 am Oh, the girls were always in at least 3-inch heels. The cast has talked about it a lot. You can also see them on Buffy's feet all the time when they pan out. Xander's a moron, making poor Giles run all that way. Good for you, Anya. Love how Spike keeps the household running in subtle ways - cleaning up here and there, patching boo-boos, feeding the dog...the trash probably wouldn't even be out on time if he wasn't around. Now they have the Nikki connection...I'm so laughing at Buffy's last comment. It's so true!! Thanks, honey! That would probably explain why they look near enough the same height, then. Xander is definitely a moron. Anya definitely isn't, and with the ring firmly on her finger now, she isn't about to let him get away with all his crap. Spike is at his best when he has someone/people to look after. I figured, even though neither Spike nor Giles got the connection straight away in canon, with Wes there to prompt and Wood acting in a way to draw attention, they might get there a bit quicker. Glad you're enjoying it still.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.08 07/30/2006 06:19 pm I can't believe that Xander could be so pugheaded that he just put evryone isn danger by broadcasting that news to everyone! Of all the stupid and careless things to do. *growls softly at the computer* great story so far really engaging. --- I just read your replies thank you so much for getting back to me and letting me know what you think. I really apreciate it so much! This really is a wonderful story and you are doing an absolute increible job! Thank you so much for sharing your talented writing with us! LOL I am now inspired to start writing with us - it gives me the urge to start back with my story that has been pending for awhile! *growls softly at the computer* Now we know where your pen-name comes from... and yep, Xander=stupid+careless. Glad to know the replies are getting you thinking of writing again. Now, if only I could kick my own muse into gear. He's been temperamental lately.   jl1980 Chapter 2.08 07/25/2006 11:27 pm i love how buffy's finally standing up for them to her friends...wonder what's gonna happen with wood...great chapter Thanks, honey. Buffy eventually had to pick sides and it might have taken a little nudge in the right direction from Spike but this time she got it right.   vladt Chapter 2.08 07/12/2006 09:32 pm great chapter. love buffy's physical and verbal slapping xander. and red couldn't be bothered to tell her friend that spike wasn't chipped! love the read, thank you Thanks! Xander so needed that. I suspect that contrary to Xander's sudden panic and 'end of the world' attitude, Willow simply forgot, with everything else that was happening. Glad you enjoyed it.   Lou Chapter 2.08 07/12/2006 03:27 am Yikes - confrontations on all sides!! Xander is just awful! Well, you won't get any argument from me on that point. Thanks!   MarzBar Chapter 2.08 07/12/2006 02:36 am WTF is Robin Wood doing in town already? Nice scene with Red, the Whelp and Spuffy in the yard. Well, the vanilla answer would be that you would really expect the future headmaster of the new school to take part in selecting the teachers who'll be working there after the vacation, and with an entire school's worth to recruit... As for any other reasons I'll leave that to your imagination, at least until the story unfolds further. Thanks!   kim Chapter 2.08 07/12/2006 01:56 am Whoo! Intense chapter!! So Robin's showed up, eh? Figured that's who it was as soon as there was a mention of someone looking for them...he's not a bad guy, really, but the hate from his vendetta has really been at the forefront of his life for so long...understandable when a boy loses his mother at 4 or 5, but...life is about more than seeking revenge. Xander and Willow...they really need to keep them away, for neither one can think before they speak about what's best for the whole group's safety. Muting them might even be a better idea. Thanks, honey! Can't say too much about Robin Wood without giving things away. Now, if only I had thought of that and Tara was the type to throw around those sort of spells... Maybe I could have got Giles or Wes to do it, though...   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.07 07/30/2006 06:03 pm GO DAWNIE - that was in awesome rant that she did - I am glad that she set Willow straight/ I loved this chapter - the who whole protect Tara thing was awesome and Anya was great standing up for her beliefs - great chappie! Thanks, honey! Little Dawnie doesn't mince her words, and as for Anya, she has to know that if she lets Xander slide on this sort of stuff, then she sets a trend that'll end up with her looking like Xander's mom X years down the line. She has to make a stand for herself and for how she wants their marriage to work.   jl1980 Chapter 2.07 07/25/2006 11:20 pm go dawnie...i'm so proud of her taking charge and telling willow what's what, coming to tara's and spike's defense like that....another excellent chapter, love...on to more Thanks, honey! There are times when Dawn is even more Joyce-like than Buffy.   vladt Chapter 2.07 07/12/2006 09:11 pm very good read, thank you. loved anya and dawn sounding off and buffy's "Okay. 'This is our family. Mess with them, deal with us.'" Thanks! As a previous reviewer commented, Anya has the right idea about marriage, but Xander is playing catch up all the time. And Dawn will say exactly what she thinks of a situation given half a chance.   kim Chapter 2.07 07/11/2006 06:53 pm Same height? Not even...funny for them to say, though. (Seen both people in person) Wow, go Dawnie!!!! Quite a speech...too bad it won't sink in With Willow-Knows-It-All. Loved the doggie shopping, too - hysterical! And I've done things similar to what Spike said in the jewelry store. It's so much fun to put snobs in their place. Poor Tara's going to take a lot of reinforcement to feel that she belongs, and stuff. It really does take a while to counter 20 years of programming. Anya's words with Xander were right on, too. She's really been getting the whole marriage thing, and the silly guy's constantly playing catch-up. I hope he realizes who's really on his side soon before he gets hurt again. Have to say I didn't think so myself, but someone pointed out that in OAFA they did look pretty close. Maybe Amber was wearing high-heels. Dawnie is pretty good at saying what she thinks. Glad all the shopping didn't bore you to tears. I think Spike'll do his best to ensure tara knows she belongs, and as for the Harrises, well there was never any doubt about which one had the brains in that family...   MarzBar Chapter 2.07 07/11/2006 11:49 am It seems the living arrangements are getting worked out satisfactorily, without Willow. Good for Dawn to get her unhindered go at Red. More story please. Thanks! Yep, everybody has a place where they belong, except for Willow. More tomorrow.   Lou Chapter 2.07 07/11/2006 07:25 am Dawn's eloquence just gets better and better - she laid into Willow good style there! Nohing she doesn't deserve. Thanks, honey! And can I say I'm relieved this is finally showing up in the unanswered reviews section. For some reason it wasn't earlier. Dawn can be formidable when it comes to saying what she means, and thankfully, in this 'verse, it isn't aimed at Spike.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.06 07/30/2006 05:51 pm Wow that was in incredibale honeymoon planned - i am glad that spike and buffy are going to get to go - graet chappie Thanks, honey! And you have to bet that Buffy feels yay big for losing her temper with him... Hee!   jl1980 Chapter 2.06 07/25/2006 07:09 am awww..that was so very sweet...now *i* feel guilty for ever doubting him! lol...great update LOL! Told you to keep reading! Saw/remembered the room from the AtS episode where Groo and Angel have to go pick up the potion to prevent Cordy passing her visions to Groo and it seemed pretty perfect... unless you have issues about it being in a brothel. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 2.06 07/12/2006 08:39 pm very good update. she woke up, very good. thanks for the fine read. Thanks, honey! We all knew that there would be a very good reason for Spike to pick a brothel for the first night of the honeymoon. Good job Buffy wised up.   kim Chapter 2.06 07/10/2006 06:24 am Oh, yeah! I'd forgotten about that place on AtS...it's been a long time since I saw the episode. That did look like fun, though. Sounds like a perfect night, except the for champagne, 'cause I don't drink. All this happening in just 2 weeks since their first date? whoa...short engagement then, too...no wonder they don't have their honeymoon booked, yet. I was wondering about that, when there are only 2 months to the wedding. And Buffy expects her dress to be altered in time? 'Cause wedding dresses never fit the first time...they have the weirdest sizing. I'd forgotten about that place on AtS... And, by now, if hadn't used it I probably would have forgotten, too, but since I wrote the chapter back in August 2003, it was slightly fresher in my memory. As for the champagne, I don't think Buffy would be drinking a lot of it either, given her alcohol tolerance. And, yep, short engagement. At the time they set the date Buffy was being paranoid about Social Services so Spike was only allowed to stay over occasionally, with the end result that the date was basically calculated to allow Buffy just about long enough for her confirmation classes beforehand. And Spike is doing his best to make sure that she puts weight on, so as far as the wedding dress fitting goes, it may be just as well that it's happeneing sooner rather than later, though she hasn't actually picked a dress at this point in the fic either (I don't think). That all got kind of interrupted when Dru kidnapped Spike. My wedding dress definitely didn't fit first time, but I blame that on my sister since she made it... On the other hand, when I made bridesmaid dresses for someone else and every fitting I had to keep changing the bust on one of them I blamed it on the fact the bridesmaid wasn't little and kept showing up in a different bra every time.   Lou Chapter 2.06 07/10/2006 03:19 am Aah - that's good. Surely she's learned to trust him by now! Hee! This is Buffy we're talking about here... and even posting a chapter a day, it has been a lot longer real time than story time. In the 'verse it's still less than two weeks since their first proper date.   kim Chapter 2.06 07/10/2006 01:33 am OMG...that's so perfect! Buffy can be such a bitch! Of course, he planned a night like that...I just knew it. Once again, count on good ol' Anya, 'cause this would have been a disaster, otherwise. No wonder he was so upset and hurt. Wow...can I have a Spike, please??? Thanks, honey! The room wasn't actually my own idea. It's very briefly featured in AtS in the episode where Groo and Angel go to the brothel to see someone about getting the stuff to prevent Cordelia passing on her visions to Groo when they com-shuk(sp?). You just see a couple having a slo-mo pillow fight before their escort pulls the door closed. Seemed like the perfect place... unless you have a hang up about it being in a brothel, of course. And of course you can have a Spike, if this one will do...   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.05 07/30/2006 05:45 pm great chappie - i loved the fact that willow has gotten older and the explanition again f the curse - great chapter Thanks, honey! I rather liked the way the curse worked. If it had simply aged her irreversibly then Giles etc. would have had more grounds for being up in arms, but as it was set up it was much more difficult for them to argue that it should be removed.   jl1980 Chapter 2.05 07/24/2006 07:19 am i'm sorry but i *so* agree with buffy...i feel sorry for spike but i think he should understand...i mean if its their wedding night shouldn't it be something that they *both* can look back at as something beautiful and special? and not just in the sexcapades kind of way? oh well...great chapter , can't wait to read more LOL! Well, if both sides didn't have reason to think they were right then they wouldn't have an argument in the first place. All I can suggest is that you keep reading... Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 2.05 07/12/2006 08:25 pm pitseems buffy screwed up, again. so little faith in spike. great read, as always. thanks for the chapter. Thanks, honey! I think it's safe to say that Buffy trusts him with the big things, but she wouldn't be her if she actually asked questions before she got on her high horse.   MarzBar Chapter 2.05 07/09/2006 01:10 pm Caught up again. More story please. Thanks! As usual, there'll be more in the morning.   Lou Chapter 2.05 07/09/2006 12:26 pm Many a slip twixt the proposal and the ceremony! Thanks, honey! I take it you know they'll work it out, but nothing between the pair of them could be straightforward.   kim Chapter 2.05 07/09/2006 04:13 am Dang it! The site lost my review again. Okay, one more time... Buffy so didn't handle that well. She insulted both his male and demon pride. I don't think it was that bad of an idea, as long as the place was safe, and clean. They wouldn't have to worry about any noise they made, and there's all kinds of fun toys. It's an attempt to start their marriage with a full sexual bonding experience. Perhaps Anya could explain to Buffy the benefits of such a night? Anyway, she has a lot of groveling to do to get back in his good graces. I love that Anya gets to be appreciated as a friend. The poor girl never got enough credit on the show. Can't blame Dawn for her viewpoint, either. Willow going against the group decision had serious consequences, and Willow never took responsibility for it. She doesn't get a free write-off just because she's a "friend". Buffy has to start learning that everyone should be held accountable for their actions, not just the people she doesn't like, or the people she thinks are evil. Dawn never had Buffy's warped view of reality, and I'm so glad for that. Thanks, honey, for taking all the time and effort to review twice. I know the site has been temperamental lately. No, Buffy didn't handle that well at all, but she'll learn... and if she got things wrong with Spike, at least she did better with Anya. As for Dawn, I think the only thing anyone might be arguing with her for is the relatively short amount of time she gave them to pack all Willow's things.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.04 07/30/2006 05:41 pm lovely chapter - I am enjoying this series very much Thank you, honey! I'm glad you like it.   jl1980 Chapter 2.04 07/24/2006 02:13 am hmmm...wonder how (if) willow's increasing darkness will tie in with the first? or maybe willow wont be such a threat at all, thanks to evie's curse? hmmm....love the chapter Thanks, honey! Glad you enjoyed it. Sorry, can't think of any other way to respond without giving you huge spoilers, but you'll find out in time.   vladt Chapter 2.04 07/08/2006 03:44 pm love the tale. the dog fits right in to the group. happy to see that the more magic red uses, the more she ages. thanks for the fun read. Thanks! The dog is there to stay. The curse isn't quite as simple as more magic=more ageing, but Anya will explain that in the current chapter. Glad you're enjoying it.   kim Chapter 2.04 07/08/2006 06:23 am Sex with the dog there...they really have become the epitome of domesticity. All they need now is a 3-year-old tapping on a foot or shoulder in the middle of the night because of a bad dream. Really curious how you'll deal with the First...the same conditions as canon don't apply here. Thanks, honey! Yep, they're actually beginning to settle down, though I doubt there are any kiddies in their near future. As for The First, it'll take them a while for that situation to reach a peak, but hopefully you'll enjoy the ride.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.03 07/30/2006 05:26 pm loved the chapter!!!! Thank you, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 2.03 07/24/2006 02:05 am whoa...gotta know what they saw...nice sudden switch there from total hotness to scary and foreboding...on to more now Thanks, honey! Well, I guess by now you know that they didn't really see anything new, just saw things under slightly different circumstances... and, of course, Spike got to share so they actually pinned down the city.   vladt Chapter 2.03 07/07/2006 01:48 pm fine read, thanks. love tara. nice touch with the world cup. Thanks! I'm glad you like it. Tara is one of my own favourites, which is why I had to make sure that my S6 didn't end the same way as canon... and there'll be more World Cup action as the series goes on. One English fan even tried to convince me that since it an alternatate universe I could rewrite it so that England came away with the cup... to which i pointed out that given my loyalties, I'd have been far more likely to rewrite history so that Scotland qualified for the tournament.   Lou Chapter 2.03 07/07/2006 05:41 am At least they had a decent shag before the vision - can't wait to find out what it's of! Oops! Looks like this one came through twice for some reason.   Lou Chapter 2.03 07/07/2006 05:41 am At least they had a decent shag before the vision - can't wait to find out what it's of! Thanks, honey! All will be revealed... soon.   kim Chapter 2.03 07/07/2006 02:08 am Willow-warning vision? She hasn't been quite ready to accept that Willow's the dark power, yet. Hot scene! Whoo! Perfect Tara stuff....I love her growing confidence. She and Wes will make a good research team. A bit of bitterness there, in the mention of Giles not coming out for two months just for the wedding. Buffy would love to be that important to him, and he just doesn't get it. World Cup 2002 - no way Spike would miss that...good timing for posting this chapter, eh? Willow-warning vision? Hee, wouldn't that make everything far too simple... Tara is such a wonderful character and she soooo deserved better than she got in canon. Yep, Buffy would love to think that Giles would come here that early just for her, but she's not that naive. And since I worked out dates, it seemed we couldn't have multiple Englishmen in one place without the football coming up. There's a lot more to follow on that subject once we hit the period where the various matches were being played.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.02 07/30/2006 05:18 pm excllant chapter - i love the running theme of lily's cooking - love your characters in this Thanks, honey. I'm glad the OCs fit in so well.   jl1980 Chapter 2.02 07/24/2006 01:57 am i love the male bonding between spike and wes, love spike's speech to willow...very good chapter overall...my heart hurts for tara though....great chapter Thanks, honey! Spike and Wes actually fit together really well, but you're right about who's really suffering because of Willow's actions, well Tara and Dawn.   vladt Chapter 2.02 07/06/2006 02:16 pm very good read, thanks. Thank you!   Lou Chapter 2.02 07/06/2006 06:27 am Lovely chapter. I don't think we've seen the last of nasty Willow though. Thanks, honey! No, I don't think we have...   kim Chapter 2.02 07/06/2006 02:38 am LOL! Poor Spike...can't give away his secret by eating the good food...hee hee hee... Great talk...he's really getting good at the whole advice thing. And the dog loves Spike the most...LOL...figures. I'm so not surprised. Rogue, for a name, though? Eh...seems not quite right for that dog description. I like Callie the best, from what I've read so far. The dog has a very gentle, affable nature, so she's not going to live up to a tough name. And Willow...still disgusting. Completely lost her marbles. Thanks, honey! Hee! Poor Spike, but I'm sure he'll survive. Hey like you say, female dog so no surprise she likes the vamp best. I'm afraid the puppy sticks with Rogue... Willow... really just a hair's breadth from canon, except for Evie's version of payback.   Athenewolfe Chapter 2.01 07/30/2006 05:04 pm good chapter update I am glad xamder did something right for once LOL. It does happen... very very occasinally.   jl1980 Chapter 2.01 07/24/2006 01:43 am okay, she's seriously scaring me...and she's blaming spike...that's so not good...i hope she doesn't do anything to hurt him..but that's kind of hoping for too much, isn't it? *sigh*...great chapter...on to more ;) Thank you, honey! Willow will blame whoever she can if it means she doesn't have to take responsibility. Look at her relationship with Tara. She refused to even consider that she was doing anything wrong. All their problems were because Tara was being unreasonable... She never seemed sorry for what she did, just sorry she got caught.   vladt Chapter 2.01 07/05/2006 06:09 pm very good read, thank you. there might be hope for xander, but willow is just morre convinced her way is the only way. thanks again. Thanks again! As Anya's wish demonstrated, at least in this 'verse Xander does really care about Anya. He's just so stupid that most of the time he doesn't realise how offensive he's being. Willow is a whole different deal...   Lou Chapter 2.01 07/05/2006 06:52 am Mmm. Maybe Xander is turning the corner into reasonable land. But Willow seems to be drifting into psychopath territory! Thanks, honey! There are occasionally signs that there might be hope for Xander. Willow, isn't as easily convinced.   kim Chapter 2.01 07/05/2006 02:40 am Good Xander! Give him a cookie! Giles going with...I'm guessing he really doesn't trust Willow at the moment...maybe wants a few more words? Willow and Amy - heh. That's certainly a match made in hell. If they weren't so dangerous, they'd deserve to be stuck together. Thanks! Very very occasionally Xander can do the right thing.   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.12 07/30/2006 04:55 pm ohhhh go dawnie! way to go and very well done willow Thanks, honey! Dawn often sees things rather more clearly than Buffy does.   jl1980 Chapter 1.12 07/24/2006 01:34 am loved dawnie's reaction to willow...she said just what she deserved to have to hear...and i love how spike and buffy let willow know that while they were inclined to show her a bit more patience, they were backing dawnie up..can't wait to see what buffy will have to say to her friend now Thank you, honey! I just wrote it the way that seemed right. Buffy has a responsibility to ensure Dawn feels safe in her own home. Though, IMO she should have realised that when Willow got Dawn chased by a demon and her arm broken. Friendship only stretches so far.   vladt Chapter 1.12 07/05/2006 05:17 pm great read, thanks. dawn was fantastiic. hopefully, buffy can reinforce what dawn, tara, giles and spike tried to tell red. not that she will hear. Thanks! Dawn has her better moments! Sometimes they even make up for her bratty ones.   MarzBar Chapter 1.12 07/04/2006 10:33 pm Wow! Dawn told Willow the truth! Thank you! Dawn has this habit of doing that.   Lou Chapter 1.12 07/04/2006 08:30 am Wow - Dawn kicked ass in that chapter! Willow's still full of herself then. Thank you! Dawn sometimes seems more Joyce's daughter than Buffy does, especially when it comes to knowing where to draw the line.   kim Chapter 1.12 07/04/2006 04:09 am Aaack, the first review I made didn't show up - the sites's moving incredibly slow. Trying again... Good for Dawn. I always preferred her straight shooting to Buffy's placation of everyone. I would have told Willow the same things...thrown her out long ago if she wouldn't pay rent. The arrogance, delusion, and amoral attitude is just sick. Right now, I'm hoping she keeps trying to magic herself better and rids the world of her meddling. And Buffy needs to give her final say, or Willow is just going to try to fix everyone else so Buffy will be her friend again, since she thinks Buffy can't think for herself. Poor little puppy. Hopefully, it's young enough to forget the trauma later. I hope Giles has learned some things, too. Like it or not, he put himself in the fatherly position when he started caring for the kids more than a "Watcher should". He needs to step up and own that responsibility now. Thank you, honey! I got slightly confused when I got the email notification for your first review but then I had no way to actually reply, so I'm glad you took the time to try again. Yep, Dawn is definitely the straight-talker of the family. Buffy will have her say. How much Willow will actually listen to, since if she was going to take any of it to heart she'd have to actually admit she'd been in the wrong, is another matter... Poor puppy, yep, but it has a new home now. Giles is learning that he doesn't know the Scoobies as well as he might have thought... Or rather they have changed, but his perception of them has remained static. And Xander, he just might surprise you...   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.11 07/30/2006 04:48 pm love that they gave the dog to dawn - can't believe how selfish and bigoted xander was - hen will he ever learn Thanks, honey! Well, it wouldn't be fair to take the poor puppy back to the pound or let it end up as vamp food. Xander can think things through, work out what he has to do, but still screw up when it comes to actually doing it, because he just falls back into the same old familiar habits.   jl1980 Chapter 1.11 07/22/2006 07:37 am lol...the ending made me smile...overprotective spike... ...i like the puppy already, and the curse is just what willow deserved...great chapter Thank you, honey! I can't see Spike's attitide changing where it comes to his girls any time soon, and, yeah, the curse is exactly what Willow deserved. Hugs   kim Chapter 1.11 07/03/2006 02:59 pm Why train the dog, exactly! Spike's a good Papa Bear... Poor little scared puppy...better ship Willow off post haste. Thanks, honey! Willow won't be around too much longer, and, yeah, Spike is on the protective side especially now.   Alice Chapter 1.11 07/03/2006 09:50 am I love this series! I'm looking forward to more!!! Thank you, honey! There'll be more tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that...   Lou Chapter 1.11 07/03/2006 07:17 am Great chapter - though why anyone even bothers with this Xander anymore is a mystery! Thank you! Sadly for Anya she loves the pain in the arse...   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.10 07/30/2006 04:35 pm I like Giles denial.... he just doesn't want to believe it - love that they are kicking willow out and letting tara stay - why should willow get to keep the friends and home when she was the one who did wrong. great chapter! Poor Giles... Admitting just how far gone Willow is means admitting his own share of the blame for letting her end up that way. Definitely with you on the keeping Tara and ditching Willow. We never saw Willow lift a finger in that house despite supposedly being there to help look after Dawn, but she was the one who got to stay in canon? What's up with that?   jl1980 Chapter 1.10 07/21/2006 07:45 am wow...willow deserves to face the consequences of what she did though...i love spike comforting tara...so sweet....great chapter Thanks, honey! If I remember correctly from when I was posting these chapters (not so long ago) you'll find out the exact nature of the curse in another two or three chapters. I have to admit, I love Spike and Tara together, whether it's as friends or more. In a lot of ways they complement each other and she certainly doesn't make things as fraught as Buffy sometimes has a tendency to do, but in this fic you've probably guessed that their relationship is purely platonic.   vladt Chapter 1.10 07/03/2006 08:05 pm love spike giving tara the support she needs. giles should have been the one explaining to her why this was just. he can be so dense. wonderful read, thank you. Thank you! I'm really glad you're enjoying it. The reason I had things work that way rather than the other is that Tara now knows Willow so much better than Giles does. Before their chat he may have been able to convince himself that this was just another slip up and that underneath Willow was basically the same timid schoolgirl that she always was. Tara knows far better...   Lou Chapter 1.10 07/02/2006 10:42 am Wise Tara - unwittingly getting through to duh Giles with her calm reason. Deftly done. Tara definitely is a wise soul. Even Giles isn't too stubborn to realise that. Thank you!   kim Chapter 1.10 07/02/2006 01:26 am Yep, definitely his fault. He never tried to train her. And Giles should have done the re-souling spell, not Willow. Love the demon convo...love Spike's inclusion of Tara in the family, the poor thing. Thank you! Giles definitely needs to bear some of the responsibility for Willow's attitude. To be fair, though, at the time Willow decided to do the resouling spell (second time around at least - too long since I watched S2 to remember where he was when the original decision was made), he was kind of busy being tortured by Angelus, so we can't really blame him for that one. Spike tends to tell things as he sees them and he's far too well acquainted with how it feels to be left on the outside to wish that on someone he cares about... and it was wayyy past time someone stuck up for Tara.   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.09 07/30/2006 04:29 pm I love that Anya knows her and the last line about her dressing gown was great! Can't wait to see what you do with this from here! I love this story! Thanks, honey! I'm glad you're enjoying it.   jl1980 Chapter 1.09 07/21/2006 07:41 am lol..trust anya to *know* her....lol...maybe they can talk her into fixing willow, and no one else will get hurt...i hope...great chapter Bats eyelashes and looks around innocently. I thought she had fixed Willow so that no one else would get hurt... Yeah, I know I'm a bad evil woman who thinks canon Willow got off wayyy too easy. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 1.09 07/01/2006 04:39 pm absolutely wonderful. red really screws up, the puppy gets spared, and anya knows the demon. great chapter. thanks for the read. Thank you! Willow really had a rather poor record when it came to magic, mostly because her entire attitude was far too blasé, so it was almost guaranteed that, given my motivation in writing fanfic is almost always to try to 'fix' things, she would end up paying for her arrogance... and, of course, the puppy would be okay. Figure with eleven hundred years under her belt Anya must know quite a few demons. Evie is one of the nicer more fun ones.   Lou Chapter 1.09 07/01/2006 03:11 pm Ha! Can't wait to see Willow. Thank you! The next chapter is now up, but you might have to wait a little longer before Willow is conscious again, though hopefully all the other stuff that's going on will keep you interested until then...   kim Chapter 1.09 07/01/2006 04:10 am Oh, awesome, the demon has a sense of humor, and Anya knows her! She made Willow an old woman! Awesome consequence. Show the little bitch why she shouldn't be playing with these kinds of forces. And yay for the puppy! Can we leave her this way? Huh, huh? Tara dump her, and we leave her this way? Maybe the Coven knows of a convalescent home for old witches? Thank you, honey! The spell is slightly more complicated than simply ageing Willow a number of years, but you'll find out how it works in Chapter 1.11. I have a feeling that you might approve. Clever/lucky puppy, huh? Glad you liked it, sweetie!   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.08 07/30/2006 04:23 pm i like the discussion about willow and her selfishness. a good analysis of willow's character and an intersting perspective of why spike would prefer Xander to Willow. Excellant job as always! Well, I don't know that Spike would prefer Xander to Willow, more he'd not want Buffy to be alone, but I know what you mean. Thanks again, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 1.08 07/21/2006 12:25 am lol...that ending was pretty funny...very excellent job on this story, i must say and i love the way you write anya....so perfect Thank you, honey! Anya can be such a fun character to work with, and since I started writing my Giles/Anya series of ficlets, I've grown especially fond of her.   vladt Chapter 1.08 06/30/2006 02:36 pm very good chapter. love seeing spike tell buffy exactly how good of friend red has been. great last line! thanks for the read. Thank you! Someone really needed to make Buffy see that she was letting the way things used to be in high school blind her to the way things had really been for the last year (at the very least). Glad you liked that last line. Good job Willow's mom is so oblivious it makes up for Buffy's lack of expertise when it comes to subterfuge.   Lou Chapter 1.08 06/30/2006 04:58 am Very suspenseful! I love the convoluted plot. Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.   kim Chapter 1.08 06/30/2006 04:03 am Yep, Spike, she's an absolutely horrid liar. It's a good thing Willow's parents are so oblivious. Great stuff Spike pointed out, and it shows how much Buffy has grown that she actually considered what he said and finally agreed. Thanks! Buffy would never have a future in espionage, that's for sure... and there was just no way I could let Buffy make the same mistake all over again where Willow and Tara were concerned.   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.07 07/30/2006 04:06 pm i can not believe willow would do something like that (well of course I believe it i just ccan't believe her nerve!) Excellant excallant excellant story so far Thanks, honey! I figure once Willow brought Buffy back from the dead, she'd pretty much think she could do anything... very much like Jonathon in the episode Superstar. It doesn't even occur to her that she's treating everyone else like her puppets.   jl1980 Chapter 1.07 07/21/2006 12:21 am wow...that's so messed up...willow is starting to majorly freak me out....so she wants them to have to go through all that again? because even without her email they'd still have to deal with sam... *sigh* stupid girl Thanks, honey! because even without her email they'd still have to deal with sam... Yep, there's every chance that sooner or later something similar would have happened, but Willow's main incentive is that she doesn't want to feel like everyone thinks she's to blame. She might tell herself that it's to save Dawn, but it probably has more to do with the disappointed look in Tara's eye, or the accusing looks Dawn would treat her to once she found out the whole story.   vladt Chapter 1.07 06/29/2006 01:12 pm love anya's summming up red's disastrous magic moves. great read, thanks Thank you! Hope you enjoy the new chapter just as much.   Shadow Chapter 1.07 06/29/2006 08:19 am Methinks willow needs a spanking... preferably by something big, ugly and stinky... *GRIN* Nice chapter ! Thank you! I'm hopeful, even though there is nothing big, ugly and stinky about to make an appearance soon, that you'll like the way this plays out.   Lou Chapter 1.07 06/29/2006 04:50 am Excellent chapter - Willow's really going over the edge now. She and Xander make a fine pair! Thanks, honey! Willow really thinks that if she pulls this off, she can get off free... And while she missed Tara when they were separated, she really takes her for granted as soon as their being together begins to feel 'normal'. As for her and Xander, I sometimes wish that back in S3 they had stayed together instead of Willow getting back with Oz. They so deserve each other.   kim Chapter 1.07 06/29/2006 03:43 am She's going to offer up a puppy?? That bitch! How dare she? Yay for Spike figuring it out! He's so smart...love all the jokes and smart comments floating around. Truly funny. Eeeep! Please let someone stop her in time!! Thanks, honey! Yep, 'fraid so... Glad you like the humour. As for stopping her... tune in for the next instalment tomorrow.   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.06 07/30/2006 03:52 pm Shakes head a Willow - she doesn't realize it does she. I loved how you had Xander analyze his feelings - you weave a very complex and character driven stoy - which I of course adore! I can't wait to read what happens next as this story just gets constantly better and better! Willow even in canon doesn't tend to think in terms of what she should or shouldn't do by S6. It's all about what she can do, and it never even crosses her mind, no matter how much Tara tries to get through to her, that that isn't how it should be. As for Xander, it's easy just to write him off as a jerk (and a lot of the time I do) but there are real reasons for how he feels the way he does. Thanks again, honey!   jl1980 Chapter 1.06 07/21/2006 12:15 am wow...willow's getting dangerous here....uh-oh...that's an awful lot of tampering to do, isn't it? man...on to the next chapter willow's getting dangerous here.... As opposed to in canon? Yep, Willow is back on her power trip. Thanks, honey!   vladt Chapter 1.06 06/28/2006 06:56 pm and who will win the award for most egocentric for the year? willow? xander? great read, thanks. Thanks! I think I would probably go with Willow, but then I know what's coming...   Lou Chapter 1.06 06/28/2006 05:50 am What a pair! Thicko Xander and Deludo Willow. They're making me very angry!!!! Hee! Thank you! That's kind of what I intended, with maybe just a hint of understanding for where Xander is coming from.   kim Chapter 1.06 06/28/2006 02:07 am Stupid Willow!!! Thank goodness Tara thought that something was off and decided to do something about it. I hope they stop Willow in time. She needs to go to the Coven, or somewhere, now, before the giant mess we know of happens all over again. And Xander...sigh...not much to do with him if he won't try to get to know these people as individuals. Every sentient being has free will, and that means even demons can choose to be peaceful in society. It's the best way to survive for some...like Brachens, or like Clem. Thanks, honey! I hope they stop Willow in time. She needs to go to the Coven, or somewhere, now, before the giant mess we know of happens all over again. Well, since it's me, she might find herself in a whole NEW giant mess. As for Xander, honestly, by the very, very end of the series there is a slight glimmer of hope where he's concerned, but he's not about to change overnight.   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.05 07/30/2006 03:38 pm I love the surprise visit of Giles! I really do love him as a character! I can't believe Xander was so insensative - go dawn for telling him off - great chapter as always Thanks again, sweetie! Well, we couldn't leave Giles mouldering away in England, could we? As for Xander, he's sensitive to the point of paranoia when he thinks someone has slighted him, but not so good when it comes to other people. You just have to look at how he treated Anya in canon.   jl1980 Chapter 1.05 07/19/2006 10:50 pm excellent chapter...i was right with spike on the whole vamping-out, breaking-stuff *mad* thing...xander is so stupid and immature and insensitive...again i say, poor dawnie...very good chatper though Thanks, honey! I'm afraid that for a lot of the time with Xander it's a case of two steps forward and one step back (at least in my fics) and he and Spike just always seem to get off on the wrong foot. Glad you enjoyed it.   vladt Chapter 1.05 06/28/2006 05:30 pm very good read. thanks. are you going to have xander grow up or spike kill him? that seems to be the options at present. thanks again. Hee! I'd like to think that eventually there might be hope for Xander... Maybe I'm a fool. Thanks!   kim Chapter 1.05 06/27/2006 02:57 pm Mmm, great chapter. You mean, he's not an indentured servant? LOL...Oooo, and now Xander feels thissss big. And all in front of the Reverend, too... So *that's* the first sign of an apocalypse - two Watchers! LOL...either way, Buffy's going to be thrilled to have her pseudoDad around. And chocolate's a great cure-all. Thanks, honey! Hee, sometime Xander will learn to keep his mouth shut and stop his prejudices getting the better of his brain. Hee! Yep, I guess that Buffy will be quite happy to have Giles around.   Lou Chapter 1.05 06/27/2006 08:16 am Nice chapter but has Xander wised up? Thanks! Let's just say that Xander is now in a position where he has realised that he needs to wise up. It won't happen overnight, but...   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.04 07/30/2006 03:31 pm Excellant story so far - I love the ministers rationale of why he was going to marry them, I love the facts you pointed out and his viewpoint of who has a soul and who is dammed. Great chapter! Thanks, honey! Have to say that a LOT of the credit for the minister and his viewpoint should by rights be apportioned to Lori a.k.a RevDorothyL, ordained minister, doctoral candidate and member of my mailing list. She asked for more of the minister after his first appearance in True Colors and her guidance gave me the confidence to risk expanding his role, whereas before that I had been wary of potentially offending anyone, religion being a very sensitive subject for some people.   jl1980 Chapter 1.04 07/19/2006 10:44 pm uh oh...interesting way of looking at things that young minister's got...wonder who's bickering outside... Thanks, honey! A great deal of the credit for the minister has to go to RevDorothyL a.k.a. Lori. I was made to go to church up until I left home for university, so I felt secure enough in the basics as per True Colors, but without an ordained minister on my mailing list who was willing to toss ideas back and forward, I'd have taken the route least likely to offend anyone and not shown him again until the service.   vladt Chapter 1.04 06/26/2006 07:48 pm good chapter, thanks. wes has been had--- rosa. Hee! Thanks. Yep, Rosa is a force to be reckoned with... as is her grandmother, and her mother for that matter.   kim Chapter 1.04 06/26/2006 05:49 am A pleasant surprise for me, here, since I haven't read the earlier parts of the saga - came into Ring of Fire, as you could probably tell. One grammatical niggle is that you should capatalize 'bible', since it's a title of a book, but that's just the English student in me being picky. And it is the faith that matters, the willingness to put aside the pursuit of self in exchange for a higher purpose. You took a unique approach to dispelling Buffy's "all souls are good and soulless things are bad" dogma. And Wes is getting roped in. LOL to Lily referring to Fred as a little girl pony. May or may not have fixed that niggle for you. As I noted at the top of the chapter I had a lot of help with the theological stuff from Lori a.k.a. RevDorothyL. It helps when you have members of the clergy on your mailing list. And, yep, Wes is definitely getting roped in. Thank you!   Lou Chapter 1.04 06/26/2006 04:42 am Typical pre-marriage stuff. Cute! Thank you, honey!   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.03 07/30/2006 03:18 pm good chappie - i love your writing style! i live the spike and dawn interaction and looking orward to the next chapter Thank you, honey! I think my style's changed quite a bit since I started this series, hopefully for the better, but it still seems like when I proof read the chapters before I post them here I still wind up playing with bits and pieces. ME seemed to build the foundation for a lovely relationship between Spike and Dawn, but then smashed it down before it came close to reaching its potential. I wanted to try to make that right. Glad it works for you.   jl1980 Chapter 1.03 07/19/2006 10:26 pm i feel better now...that conversation was therapeutic...poor dawnie..something tells me brandon wont be too freaked by the whole key thing... great chapter Thanks, honey. They both know pretty much where the other is coming from, and they care about each other. They really don't want to hurt each other.   vladt Chapter 1.03 06/26/2006 07:36 pm very good read. loved the spike&dawn talk. thanks for the fine read. Thanks, honey! Spike really does have a pretty good idea what Dawn has been through.   Lou Chapter 1.03 06/25/2006 03:58 pm Lovely natural dialogue. Thank you, honey! I'm glad you liked it.   Bigbird Chapter 1.03 06/25/2006 06:31 am Again? I don't think you're alone in this problem. I've had a few duplicate commemnts lately. Don't worry about it.   kim Chapter 1.03 06/25/2006 04:02 am Awwwww..... Thank you, honey!   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.02 07/30/2006 03:00 pm Poor Spike - another brilliant chapter - loved the dream and how Dawn is acting out with her pain. very realistic and excellantly done! Thank you, honey! I'm afraid there isn't really a quick fix for this one, but if anyone understands it'll be Spike, even if that doesn't make it hurt any less.   jl1980 Chapter 1.02 07/19/2006 10:21 pm oh wow...i felt that just like spike, like a knife to the heart...but poor dawnie, i really cant blame her...it's such a painful, awful situation.... on to read more now *sigh* Thanks, honey! Like you say, you can't blame Dawn, but it doesn't make you feel any less sympathy for poor Spike, either.   MarzBar Chapter 1.02 07/04/2006 04:41 pm This story is off to a running start. More story soon please. Hee! Thank you! It looks to me like you still have 10 chapters of catching up to do, but there'll be more tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that...   slaymesoftly Chapter 1.02 06/26/2006 08:02 am Ouch - poor Spike. Dawn is hurting him more than she can imagine. Does this mean the series has creeped out of your 'completed fics to be read whenever you have time' file? Fortunately, though it won't make it hurt less, Spike can at least understand how she feels.   vladt Chapter 1.02 06/24/2006 09:26 pm very good read, thanks.dawn is hurting, but she just lahed out at the one who is hurting almost as much as she is. thanks for the great read. Thanks! Yeah, it's one of those things we do when we're in pain and there's no way to take things back later.   Lou Chapter 1.02 06/24/2006 11:51 am Yup. Dawn's back. Thanks! She is indeed.   Bigbird Chapter 1.02 06/24/2006 05:19 am Ahh got to feel for Dawn but oh poor Spike *sob* Thank you, honey! As you say, Dawn really isn't thinking clearly, but there really isn't much she could have said to make him feel worse.   kim Chapter 1.02 06/24/2006 03:48 am Good things and bad things...such emotion in this chapter. From the "awwww!" of Dawn curling up with her family, to the funny of Anya interrogating Wes and jumping al over Giles, Wes considering putting down roots, and then the nightmare and Dawn speaking without thinking of how it would come across. Poor Spike - the only way he could keep her safer is to never let her out of the house and his sight, but that's just not realistic, and he and Buffy have been doing the best any parents can. I hope Dawn gets some help dealing with the trauma soon. Family can only do so much when they don't know how best to help. Yeah, Dawn can't be blamed for lashing out under the circumstances, but... And I love Anya, something that has just intensified with writing my Giles/Anya series of ficlets (not posted here for obvious reasons). And as family goes, Dawn's right... In essence she and Spike have both been raped, so I think he's in a better position to help than most. Thanks again for all your comments.   TalesofSpike Chapter 1.02 06/24/2006 03:01 am That's what I get for having too many windows open at once...   Athenewolfe Chapter 1.01 07/30/2006 02:29 pm Lovely begining chapter for the third book. I love this series and can't wait to get caught up on these lovely chapters Thanks, honey! I'm guessing you mean fourth book. I think there are about 37 or 38 chapters of FTE here at the moment, so at the speed you seem to reasd that shouldn't take you too long.   jl1980 Chapter 1.01 07/19/2006 03:11 pm aww...wes has a date *cheesy grin* an excellent opening to this fic, and i agree with dawn's choice in who to talk to about this ... spike would understand in so many ways! *tear for them both* i cant wait to read the rest, i'm sure this one will be every bit as beautiful as the rest of the series Hee, this review must have arrived just as I was replying to your previous comment. Wes does kind of have a date. And, yes, despite the fact Spike got zero sympathy at the time what The Initiative did to him basically amounted to rape. i'm sure this one will be every bit as beautiful as the rest of the series I really hope you think so.   The Space Between Chapter 1.01 06/24/2006 02:28 pm Okay, I have to admit to being slightly confused, 'cause it sounds like you've read FTE, but I don't know anywhere where it's archived that Angels and Demons isn't and if you've read it elsewhere then why comment here rather than where you read it. (I did give some sites permission to archive and haven't checked back to see whether they've kept up with the updates so it's possible, and I do know one site that didn't archive SWBD but then archived the subsequent fics which seemed stupid to me, NC-17 archive or not.) I did check my own site and it looked like when I started Angels and Demons I forgot to go back to the last page of FTE (now amended) and add a link, but it is listed in the fic index, as are three short stories that fit into the 'verse post-Angels and Demons and one 'what might have been if only...' fic called A Reckoning which is listed under good__evil challenge fics rather than as part of the 'verse, since technically it doesn't fit. Anyway, I'm really glad you've enjoyed it so much that you want to have your own permanent record of it... And it's definitely better archived from my own site than from here since, unfortunately, BSB's html cleaner tends to erase italics which are sometimes important to convey emphasis. Thank you! 5th instalment at: http://www.he-s-no-angel.net/4AD/AD0T.htm Hi again. The link you posted for Angels & Demons, that is the site where I read the first four 'books'. I didn't comment there because once I start reading something that I really like, I just bulldoze my way through until I am finished because I get hooked. Unfortunately when I finished the 4th 'book' I started to leave a comment about the whole story and in the middle of writing said comment, I lost internet thanks to a really crazy (but awesome) thunderstorm. I actually logged into BSV to look for your name so I could find the link to go back to your site and noticed you posted here with FTE so I commented here instead. Sorry if I confused you. Anyhoo, THANK YOU for the link to the 5th book. You are SO SO awesome! I love this story! Now, I'm off to go read Angels & Demons. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! ^^ Ahh! That explains it. In some ways it would be less confusing if I just posted here in one one fell swoop, but some people will read a fic posted in instalments where if they see 275 chapters worth of series it can be a bit off putting. And for those who really can't wait to find out how it ends, I can always point them in the direction of He's No Angel. Hope you enjoy.   The Space Between Chapter 1.01 06/23/2006 07:25 pm I read the whole thing from beginning to end and I have to say... DONT STOP WITH THE 4TH BOOK! Please? Is there a 5th installment, with the wedding and everything (please say yes please say yes please say yes) and maybe some more with whats goin on with Wes and Dawnie...maybe, possibly...please?? Just for the record I loved this whole story from the first book through to this 4th book and I've copied the whole thing in WORD and saved in a folder where I keep all my favorite stories others write. That way I never have to worry about not being able to find it again for whatever reason when I want to read it again (and again) in the future. You did this story wonderfully! Thanks so much...now about that 5th installment... ~.^ Okay, I have to admit to being slightly confused, 'cause it sounds like you've read FTE, but I don't know anywhere where it's archived that Angels and Demons isn't and if you've read it elsewhere then why comment here rather than where you read it. (I did give some sites permission to archive and haven't checked back to see whether they've kept up with the updates so it's possible, and I do know one site that didn't archive SWBD but then archived the subsequent fics which seemed stupid to me, NC-17 archive or not.) I did check my own site and it looked like when I started Angels and Demons I forgot to go back to the last page of FTE (now amended) and add a link, but it is listed in the fic index, as are three short stories that fit into the 'verse post-Angels and Demons and one 'what might have been if only...' fic called A Reckoning which is listed under good__evil challenge fics rather than as part of the 'verse, since technically it doesn't fit. Anyway, I'm really glad you've enjoyed it so much that you want to have your own permanent record of it... And it's definitely better archived from my own site than from here since, unfortunately, BSB's html cleaner tends to erase italics which are sometimes important to convey emphasis. Thank you! 5th instalment at: http://www.he-s-no-angel.net/4AD/AD0T.htm   vladt Chapter 1.01 06/23/2006 05:41 pm evething is going way to well. thanks for the fine read. Hee! You're the second person to say that... I guess you'll have to read 1.02 and see. Thanks as always for taking time to comment.   Lou Chapter 1.01 06/23/2006 07:22 am Things are going unusually well but I'm sure it won't last!! Well, I've just posted the next chapter so if you've got there already I guess you'll know... Thank you again.   kim Chapter 1.01 06/23/2006 06:30 am Yeah, poor Wesley gets nervous around the female persuasion. Perhaps Dawn could go in a couple days with Buffy to the gyno Joyce used when she was alive? If their mother had a trusted doctor, then that would be a good choice...provided they still have the info. Yeah, poor Wes... Hee! Hee! Dawn, well, I figure the way to get over being traumatized by one unwanted gyno exam is not to go straight into having another unwanted gyno exam... I could be wrong, but I'm taking the view that Dawn would see that as adding insult to injury. The real damage isn't the physical stuff. Thanks (as always)! Tales   Disclaimer If you are under the age of 17, please use your head and do not read fics that are labeled "NC-17". Parents, I cannot control what your children are reading, so please be advised that the majority of the fics archived here are NOT suitable for those under the age of 17. I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I am in no way making any profit from this site. This is for pure entertainment purposes only. 2004 copyright-bringonthebloodshed.com