Makes me nervous that she's left the store, without her powers and without her vampire escort.  And with Angelus planning something!

hope buffy retains her anger and mistrust of the watcher, i'm sure spike will. good read, thank you.

Man, Spike is going to go mad when he finds out. Can't wait for the next update.

I always thought Giles should hang for this betrayal. On the show, he betrayed Buffy, he betrayed Dawn, he betrayed Buffy by demanding that she of all people kill her sister, he betrayed Buffy again by leaving her when her life was falling apart, and then he betrayed Spike.

It's too bad Buffy doesn't have the guts to order his death. I merely hope that given she's older and vastly more independent in this AU, she doesn't do a craven thing like crawl back to the murderous traitor. I mean, she's pissed at Wesley for witholding things and she OWES Wesley.

Also, in your AU the Council's operations unit has been wiped out. So Buffy had nothing to fear from them even without Spike being in the picture. And Giles really should have known this. He did it to protect his job and NOTHING more. Anything he says otherwise is the weasely self-serving rationalization of a rat bastard.

So actually, you've written yourself into a corner. If you have Buffy forgive Giles for what he's done, you will be raping the character you've created. I really hope you're okay with this fact because I want to see the fic continue. But I'd rather it end than read about something spectacularly nauseating.

You've made Buffy smarter, more resilient and less codependent. You've ripped away every single excuse Buffy in the show had for doing what she did. If your Buffy does the same craven and miserable things that she did on the show, it will reveal that she is fundamentally fucked up in the head.

I apologize if this is all obvious to you but I once read a fanfic where the author did exactly this and she never realized what she had done until I pointed it out to her. So my concern is by no means theoretical.

wow! great chapter! i really cant wait for more, this is the best story ever! (and i've read a lot!) please update really really soon! i loved this!!! =]

ouch, poo rBuffy, nice bath scene though, and I really liked her last line .

I love how Buffy isn't taking any crap from anyone.  Go girl!

You are so good at juggling together the quiet intimacy along with the complex plot elements, and interweaving canon details...still rapt

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
well at least theyve realised what was wrong,
and spike can help buffy!!
lovee
cant wait for more
SSxox

Buffy really should have been harsh with Giles over the betrayal...he is a THINKING man and in no way does that ritual make sense if it is thought out.

Poor Spike, I can so easily see him guilt ridden over her bruises.  He is not gong to be a happy vamp when he finds out the plans for Buffy later that night.

Willow will have plenty of thinking to do about the Council after this bit of information.  Buffy too more obviously...now if Giles would only think.

Excellent update.

Kathleen