Great ending Buffy and Spike together and finding their new lives and renewed love but also a new start for Giles and the Scoobs and the new Slayers - 

Lovely story.  Wow, Giles and Angel do not come off well... and the less you say about Kennedy the better.

I like that Buffy and Spike will be around to keep things from going crazy.

Eternal love.

Blue DeepBlueJoy's tales

Thank you for this wonderful fic!

I'm aware that it has been a year since this story was finished, and that all the comments are from then, but I hope you won't mind a little addition.  I have just re-read this story for the 5th time, and it has quickly moved up the ranks to become one of my favorite stories.  It has everything I like in a story:   
A Buffy mature enough to admit her true feelings (because we all know she really did love Spike), and willing to put Spike's needs ahead of her own for a change.
Spike with some self-respect -  I like the way he can still be soft, but not let anyone push him around.
Angel and Giles finally being put in their place - being told it is time for them to stop believing they have the right to dictate Buffy's life. 
A kinder and gentler Xander 
and even if this makes me petty . . . a little bit of Kennedy bashing (never was a fan of hers,  especially since it is hard to think of her and not be reminded of Tara - who I really adore)
and of course (because I am a bit of a perv) some hot, intense, erotic, take my breath away sex scenes (and I love the claiming rituals)
Anyway,  overall I like this story so much I continue to return to it over and over again, and every time I read it I enjoy it more.  Thank you for sharing your gift of writing with everyone.  I hope you will continue to write.  <3

Thank you for another amazing story,I hope you never stop writing.
:-D

Wow!!  I read this story in one go and what a story it was!  I'm just getting back to reading Spuffy after a few months hiatus, and to come back to a story like this makes me realize why I love these characters in the first place.  Thank you for sharing! :)

I didn't have a computer for 5 days...and all the time I was thinking "Oh no! I'll be missing this story!" Thank goodness I finally got to read it! Wonderful work, simply amazing! Beautiful ending, sad to see this was 'the end', can't wait for your next masterpiece!

I have to admit, your stories are a guilty pleasure. I really enjoy the fact that your stories have plot and adventure. In fact, I love how varied the adventures are and that they are not just all about getting them to claim each other. But as much as I enjoy your stories, I have to say i think you've really matured as a writer on this one.

The characters are both addressing issues raised in the series without the whole knee-jerk "Spike isn't evil because he loves Buffy and that's enough" that this community can fall into. While I understand how appealing his character is without the soul, to ignore it discounts the amazing thing he did by going to get it.  Personally, I'm thrilled to find a well-written story that happens after Season 4.

I also really like the fact you redeemed Xander. Buffy's friends did a number on her, but it wasn't all their fault or even hers.

Looking forward to reading anything else you write...

Loved this story so much. You really have a great way of exploring all the flaws in each of the characters and their relationships, and making them grow and mature. And I just love that there is always a happy ending for Spuffy. Basically, you do everything I wish the writers on the show had done.

Can't wait for the next fic.

-I was reading your replies to some reviews and I was wondering what the title of that book was that had the Xander essay...also wondering what else was in the book and if it was worth buying.

Awwww... I loved this.. i would have loved to have seen the last scene in actually buffy i think it would have fitted great... I would love for you to make a fic when buffy goes into the amulet with spike on the last episode of buffy and spike are in angel together... i think that would be amazing... it would have made angel season 5 sooooo much better and more exciting and hilarious... thanks again for this fic it was great. x

Much Love

<3 Kryssie Marie<3

Sorry I haven't been reviewing- I've had a four day long migraine, so reading anything wasn't on my list of things to do. So this review is for the last four chapters! Hopefully you don't mind how long it is.

Yay for helpful Wesley- knew I liked that guy for a reason

Loved Vi’s reaction to Spike coming back.

Yes! Another person who was like ‘umm…robbing banks not cool’ When I saw that in the comic I was shocked and a little disgusted with Buffy. Doesn’t matter you you’re robbing it from, still wrong. Especially from the white hats and Buffy- they only preached never doing anything bad for how long? And my I point out that Spike –the one who nicked everything- telling her it’s wrong is hilariously ironic.

I like the leading into the comics thing. It’s kinda fun to see how the stuff you see in the comics (the television commercial, the banks, etc) came into being- even if you’re like me and absolutely hates the comics.

Though I’m not gonna lie, the whole Slayers can’t kill bad humans is right of course, but if it were to happen I wouldn’t really be bothered. Just like when Willow killed Warren- I felt she was justified and didn’t give a damn about him. It might make me a horrible person, but I can’t feel sorry for him. Same would go for other bad humans if, for some reason, a Slayer ended up taking them out (it would have to be justified of course). I think that makes me a terrible person.

I feel so sorry for Xander here, which is a miracle. I usually can’t stand him at all. But when he’s asking why not Anya, it broke my heart. I understand that must hurt so much, and I pity him for it. I’m glad he’s not going to hold it against Spike. You have a real mature Xander here, and it’s nice to see.

The fact that Spike apparently knows Harry Potter makes me giggle. I have a mental image of him sitting in his crypt with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets sitting open on his lap as he reads it. It’s a very funny picture.

Spike’s plan makes much more sense- sure the Slayers need to get together to get trained and even to figure out what’s happening to them, but why keep an army of them? I mean, sure you could use an army for the yearly apocalypse, but you don’t need that many in one place. Anyway, imagine how much you could do with Slayers all over the place? You’d save a lot more people.

I’m glad Dawn finally gets to understand what really went on in Season six between Buffy and Spike. I always hated that she was left in the dark and came to the wrong conclusions about what happened. Blamed it all on Spike when the whole mess of a relationship was both Buffy and Spikes’ fault.

Kennedy is a bitch. Why oh why couldn’t you have just killed her when the big demons attacked? I mean really…she’s not that important. Power hungry brat. HAHAHAHA! Shunned Kennedy makes me laugh.

I always love it when Buffy owns up to how destructive her part was in their ‘relationship’. She always seemed to think that none of it was her fault on the show, and that honestly made me hate her the last two seasons. Sure Spike had his moments (only thing better than fighting a slayer line comes to mind right off the bat) that contributed, but not like Buffy. I’m sorry, I was raised that you at least respect the person you’re sleeping with, not treat them like crap. Don’t even get me started on the beating in Dead Things or the kicking her out seen on Gone (why is it when Spike explicitly said no to sex and she did it anyway played off as humour and the bathroom is so horrifying). Again, lots and lots of issues.

Umm Buffy…wouldn’t rely on the full claim on Kennedy’s part. The no killing Spike because it’ll kill you- she might just pounce on that plan. Two birds with one stone.
Loved the story and can't wait for whatever you're gonna bring us next!

Wow - that was a rollercoaster of a final chapter...  I was so relieved that you brought everyone (well other than the hateful Kennedy - never could stand her) back into the fold but with everything sorted out.  So glad Spike got his memory back and that they still loved each other enough for a mutual claim.  And that you answered several of the problems that claims seem to have in other stories.  I always remembered what the Mayor (really loved the Mayor, for all that he was evil...) said about watching his wife age and die and how much she resented him for not growing old and hated the fact that it would happen to Spike and Buffy.

So now all I can say is - when's the next one due out? :-D

 So I've never been much of an Angel basher or a Giles basher for that matter. I'm more for the equal love of all characters and what they bring to the puzzle, but i have never been more proud of Buffy before. As i read to the part where Buffy was laying down the law, I was shouting go Buffy to myself! It was perfect and something Buffy should have said a long time ago especially to Angel. Then when they took a stand with Xander and Willow standing up to Giles, it was magic and inspiring! I could see it all perfect in my head. Then at the end when Spike and Buffy finally claim each other and Buffy immortal and Spike in sunlight!?! AMAZINGGGGG! So thats the end of my long comment i figured i should leave an extra special one this being the last chapter and all just to show you how much i enjoyed it! So thanks for the awesome waste of my time! and i mean that in a good way since most of the time i have nothing to do, your story gave me something to look forward too! .... Fantastic :D

Very satisfying ending.  I always disliked Kennedy intensely in the show for all the same reasons you pointed out in this chapter.  I think you caught her personality perfectly. I'm so glad Willow finally saw that, too.

I was cheering so when all the potentials and all the SITs except Kennedy's lined up on the side of Buffy and Spike that I bet you could hear me all the way to your house (even if it is overseas or wherever...).

And there is hope that Giles has learned a valuable lesson and will mellow out.

Best of all you solved my biggest complaint about Buffy and Spike claiming each other.  All the other writers write about how if one dies, so does the other.  And it always bothered me that since Buffy was mortal, they had just created an automatic death sentence for Spike.  So I love how in your claim they took on each others traits and Buffy won't die.  And Spike can walk in the sun!  How marvelous!

*applauds*

Marvellous ending to a fantastic story!  Love the way the New Slayer Regime will work; and love that Buffy and Spike are really together now.  Great job!