Like your conclusion very much  -  Spike is so clever about understanding that Love is not something that should come Easy and Quick for them - It's an excellent contrast point to how she fell so totally and, IMO, overwhelmed by her love for Angel.  

Liked how you used the three CoW members as well as your treatment for Giles and Joyce. 

Excellent way to end your story with all three characters bringing in a good Reality Check - it's a wonderful ending and starting to a realistic and mature relationship for them.  

very sweet.  and keeping Joyce healthy and alive... priceless!

That was so sweet and completely reasonable.  Thank you for such a smashing read, I've loved every chapter.

Totally enjoyed!  It's good to see Buffy really analyzing her feelings instead of ignoring them.  I'm hoping for a sequel re the issue of unchipped Spike and the Scoobies.  

And as the best stories do, we end on a hopeful note for the future; a new beginning. Perfect. Thanks!

I so love your stories. 

Oh thank god that's over!   Your lydia was a scary bint!

I can understand how Spike's presence could lowe a gal's IQ but Lydia's performance verged on reaching new depths!  I thought Buffy was very restrained in the circumstances.  Well done Giles with concise explanations - should satisfy everyone.

Can't help thinking that Lydia has taken her humiliation a little too calmly. Wondering if she's going to engineer some kind of payback...

Hope we'll be seeing the back of Lydia asap, though we can all understand her obsession!

Intriguing that Lydia, George and Nigel don't appear to know of the two slayers phenomenon...

I actually like Nigel and George.  I think they have the possibility of being like Giles and having a more open mind about all those "facts" the Council has wrong.  I think they actually like Spike and Buffy and that has to be good.

Wonder what that vamp was up to?  I almost expected Giles' car to explode (see another way Spike with the chip could have still killed his third Slayer if he wanted to!)

Lovely update.
Kathleen

It's a great idea to have the watchers experience a bit of a reality check when it comes to a slayer's life.  They should go back with glowing reports at this rate.

Love this chapter.  Maybe the trio of Watchers will leave with sincere respect for our duo.  One thing about Buffy and Spike, they do know how to show a Watcher a good time LOL.

Kathleen

I'm coming to like George and Nigel.... never thought I'd say that.

I like your Buffy with her bit of jealousy - nice chapter with them together at his crypt - plus, good line from Spike about Lydia not seeing the good man right in front of her.  

I love giggly love!!! 

Swoooooonable speech from Spike, hopefully calm Buffy's jealousy ... a new experience for her.

A neat glimpse at the way that Willow's arrogance and hubris are already affecting her attitude to magic. She thinks people who have decades of experience of magic can't possibly teach her anything of value. And it's clear that Tara is already becoming wary of her.
Sweet moment between Buffy & Spike.
Wonder how soon the Council bods are going to confront them about thier relationship... which they are so bad at hiding.

Tara nailed it in one, humility. That was the real story with Willow and magic.  Not addiction but character flaws.  A combination of insecurity from years of being looked down upon and excess pride in her magic skills.  Add to that the confidence in thinking she always knew the right answer for everything and everybody and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

Starstruck Lydia watching Spike's soap is a hoot.

So I wonder how long before the Council catch on.  Spike needs to help Mr. Lovelorn Watcher and gain an ally!

Lovely update.
Kathleen

Great placement of Spike's canon speech!  Enjoyed the silliness at the end.  Hopefully George is not of a mind to tell Travers his suspicions.  

At least George seems a fairly decent chap.  B and S are just adorable.

Buffy is so totally jealous! It's adorable.

Hmm, George seems to be having a clue.  

Ha to the Council flunkies, they can put that in in their pipes and smoke it!

Love the banter. Looking forward to the demonstration patrol, but I'm a little concerned what 'test' the mage intends to do on Dawn, and what the result might be...

I really, really enjoyed this chapter.  The banter was a hoot and how they played the idiots from the council.

 I've always liked Lydia, she reminds me of fangirls of JM.  Nicely done.  

Dawn was a clever little minx too with the instant teen attitude.  I wonder about this mage though.  I doubt it will be that easy to gat rid of these clowns.

Excellent
Kathleen

Love the chapter!  It was pretty silly of Buffy to be upset with Spike at the end, though.   She should have known that everything Spike said was true or is she just itching for a squabble. 

It seems there's a way to go before Buffy can trust Spike -- he's trying his best though and for me that goes a long way.

Oh boy that moment of doubt is there.  Just what they don't need.  She has reasons for her trust issues but she really needs to get past them or they are not going to have the future they want.

Xander needs to behave in front of the Council.

I always wondered why they never took an interest in Dawn (Council or Giles himself for that matter) they just dropped that whole key from energy plot and made Dawn just another teen girl.  I doubt that would have been the case.  They should have at least wondered.

Great update.
Kathleen

Can't help wondering whether Buffy is ever going to trust 100%.
I think the Council visit is going to prove interesting.  Can't wait for Xander & Spike trying to pretend that they're friends....

Charming farewell message from Riley, what a git!  The domestic scene at Revello was charming, long may it continue!

Jerk Riley but Graham was decent enough.

Giles is a realist and Spike is way above Riley anyway.

Buffy has total trust.....the chip is gone but she is not nervous at all.  She knows her vamp.


Kathleen

Riley is a wanker. But then we already knew that. Thankfully, Graham now knows that.
I wonder whether Joyce has indeed jinxed herself....

poor Buffy... and lydia was quite fetching...   funny how 'chalmers' caught on as her last name...  have you read "Lydia Chalmers' Thesis"?  (the origin of the last name)

This is the only place I know it's still up... there used to be a full version somewhere... If I can find it, would you like to see it?

http://www.teaattheford.net/conversation.php?id=771  (not the full multimedia version)

Lovely interaction, the teasing with the underlying difficulties really works for Spike and Buffy. 

I really am enjoying how you are handling the whole Glory arc in this story.  Happy that the blasted chip is out even it it was a horribly painful way to have it happen.

I particularly liked Spike hearing and responding to Joyce comparing him to Angel.  

Lovely chapter.
Kathleen

Good chapter. I wonder how the watcher-fan visit will go and just how jealous Buffy will be and how long it's going to be before Lydia figures it out.....

Don’t go forgettin’that and thinking I’m some kind of undead housepet.”

Best line ever!!!

Best. Line. Ever.

I see Riley still thinks he's the boss of everyone - what a complete an utter git!  I don't think it's sunk in yet how wrong he his.  You've written him perfectly and happily Buffy has consigned him to history.

Great ability for Spike to monitor Dawn while ... erm ... occupied LOL.  Handy!

Riley is a jerk (surprise anyone?)  he thought he had the right to veto Buffy's choices.  Yeah huh.  That'll work, just ask Giles.

Lovely update.
Kathleen

And hopefully, that'll be the last we see of Riley....
Aw... lovely...

Captain Self-important certainly had an inflated idea of his charms!

Riley's arrogance makes my skin crawl with the way he sarcastically says "Slayer".    Oh, boy, looks like the blank might hit the fan in the next chapter.   

Good for Giles!
Oh, Riley, you arrogant twat. You just don't get it....

Nice bluff Spike.  Naturally he won't kill them because he knows he would have no chance at all with 
Buffy.  Heck she even thinks they should have left Ben alive (duh???  Giles needs to explain shades
of grey to her and that not all humans/souled beings are okay).  

Loved her reaction to Riley and his desire to fight Spike.  Spike earned the chance to thrash them 
around a bit.  Her casual no killing comment and sitting down to watch was so funny.  The other
soldier with Riley had to be given food for thought over that and having seen what Spike actually
did do in the fight.

Very enjoyable update.
Kathleen

At last Buffy is letting her common sense peep out.  Great fight with Glory, the bits of brain were particularly gory!

I am so happy to see you back from vacation.  Hope you had a grand time!  It's a really good thing to see Spike chipless.   I have faith in his good heart even if Buffy doesn't.    And now he can protect himself from Riley if need be.  

The story is getting better by each chapter. 

YAY and welcome back.  Great update.  I like this take down of Glory/Ben.  
Yes in canon as here Ben is culpable.  He knew what Glory was up to
and aided her on the way.  He was not an "innocent" human.  I wonder
what Buffy would think if Spike were to kill, say, Jeffrey Dahmer or Pol Pot
or another serial or mass killer?  Would she still think the villain was the
vampire?  

Excellent as always.
Kathleen

Excellent solution. Although it's unfortunate that Riley knows that the chip is out. He could be trouble...

You seem to do a lot of Riley-Buffy-Spike fics these days, and they all work--perhaps because you find plot points that clearly differentiate them from one another. This is no exception. I've enjoyed it (as well as the Nin chapter, an obvious allusion to Anais Nin, and yes, I'm joking, but meaning nothing nasty) and the twists you've cleverly worked on your theme. I can only hope Spike gets his chip out, given the amount of tension you've worked up around it, but it's fascinating in the meantime watching the relationships between the two pairings develop over time. And as usual, you don't make Riley an unreasaonable monster, but someone who is simply unequipped to deal with the situation he finds himself in. I've sometimes wondered why the series writers didn't give him a less stereotyped, more interesting resolution that showed future development, rather than the rub-it-in-her-face-and-destroy-Spike solution they resolved on. Much prefer your look into how things might have gone, in many different, interesting ways.

Loving this one.  Trying to catch up on all the great fic that has suddenly graced our fandom.  This one is top drawer (like you could do otherwise?).  

Have a great trip, enjoy and we'll be waiting for more when you're back.

*hugs*
Kathleen

Maybe Glory could knock some sense into Riley.  Spike was wonderful with Dawn, love their relationship.

Hate the long wait, now that you have spoiled us with regular chapters. But I'll be patience since it's such a god story and well written.

And it all seemed to be going so well. Silly Buffy, going off like that without backup.
And of course the poophead is stalking her, but perhaps just this once he'll be useful.
Does it seem to you that Buffy is a magnet for stalkers? First Angel. Then Spike. Now (here) Riley, then in S7 Wood tells her he's been 'watching' her while she's been patrolling and she reminds him of his mother... creepy or what...
I won't promise to be patient while I wait for the next update, but I shall be waiting....

Riley is digging a very deep hole for himself!

Enjoyed!  Riley is far worse than Quentin Travers in his pomposity and arrogance after appearing so cornfed and easy going before.  I hope Buffy has her eyes open.  

Getting more and more intriguing. And Riley is still a poophead.

More, more, PLEASE.

It's really weird that the spell has not dissolved for Buffy.  That's some powerful specific magic. 

Getting good...er.

Amazing what a difference a little jiggling of the timeline can make, loving it!

Please update as soon as possible so many questions

Brilliant twist! 

Smart work by Spike, here's hoping it makes the difference it deserves.

Oh, boy,  there is going to be fun with the Ben/Glory spell sort of like Who's on First I can imagine.   I hope Spike can have some patience.  

Well, thank goodness there was just innocent TV watching. I would have been a bit miffed at Buffy if there had been more.
Yay! Spike saw the transformation! Hope Giles remembers the note and his resolve to do something about it.
Good luck, Joyce....

Please update soon. I want more.

great  "a girl like me." exchange - it tells so much about Buffy and being a Slayer. 
 

Nice variation on this timeframe.

There is so much on Buffy's plate right now.  Ugh on grabby Riley adding to her problems.  I wonder if Ben is watching Joyce carefully too.  Enjoying!  

I like the story so please update as soon as you can.

And it looks as though Joyce had a blank moment with Dawn, and Riley says his meories of her are fuzzy? Does that signal his mental state? 

And Riley is oblivious to the awkwardness and the fact that he is utterly redundant excecpt as a driver. And why on earth does Buffy invite him in? Twit! Spike was waiting just down the street! Hopefully, he'll wait and Riley with finally get a clue and leave....

Enjoying your story very much - 

Cute repartee, before Clunky stuck his oar in!

Please update as soon as you can.

I just adore Protective!Spike!
Riley is a jerkface. That's not quite as bad as a poophead, but worse that a plain jerk.
Oooh! Did Joyce collapse? I'd forgotten that we were heading into her illness... :(

TextLove the story and need more soon. And I want to say that I am glad you are still writing in this universe. I have been reading Buffy fiction since I discovered it back when Buffy was still filming. There are so many authors that have given up writing that it is depressing. So Kudos to those still writing and the new authors coming up. May it go on for many more years.

So both Spike and Buffy can play the game of "if I don't say it,  it does not exist".  Cleverly living in that river.  

Well, I'm hooked, of course, as I am by all the stories you write. Very much looking forward to how you develop this.

I like this story so please update as soon as you can.

Two things I love. The Spike & Giles dynamic, now that Spike has emphatically proven that he doesn't want Buffy dead, and the teasing Buffy & Joyce dynamic, particularly Joyce's continuing denial about just how violent and dangerous Buffy's calling is. Now we know where that propensity in Buffy originated!

A bit of honesty from both parties is making a world of difference.  Love it!

My favorite thing in this chapter was the Harmony bit.  Buffy let on to her jealousy which did not escape Spike.  

I like this challenge response so far.  I like the change to the Slayer conversation they have and how Spike found out about Buffy's first thought when it comes to a superpowered person.  I am curious to see what happens to the end of FFL though now that Spike isn't angry at her.  I feel like Spike being there for her after she found out about her Mom was a really important moment in their relationship.  I can't wait for more.

Now, that's more like the way it should have gone, and would have if Buffy hadn't been so self-righteous and bitchy. 

I love how you right Buffy and Spike and I'm very much liking this Giles - Great to be reading SMS again. 

Buffy - never thinking that a simple "ask him" without all her hostility might get the same results or even better results - 

Isn't it lovely without Riley sticking his oar in!  Giles was particularly drole I thought.

Lovely start. Amazed that I don't think I've encountered this scenario in my 14+ years reading fan fiction. I can barely believe it's been that long! Love the Giles Spike dynamic.  Hoping for many more awkward moments as they find there way to each other.  Awesome. 

Nice twist, with Spike saving Buffy from the self-stake rather than Riley (where's he?).
Looking forward to your version of the 'Death Wish' lesson from 'Fool For Love'.

This is my absolute fave episode that this fic is based around.  You usually have such neat titles.  Are you going to change this?   Will Riley intervene somehow and change events since he is the boyfriend?