It's nice to see Spike and Xander getting along so well.

You really make me love Dawn more than anyone else has even if her role is fairly minor. You also make me angrier with Spike than anyone else with his memories of slaughtering tots and him always leaving at the worst time, but when he's good in your fic he's super good, so it's hard not to still love him. By the way, thanks so much for not having Tara get shot. That was one of the worst ever parts of the series.

*gasp* Another heart-wrenching dramatic twist! I normally lose interest in fanfics this long, but you have not yet let me down. I know you'll keep the exciting conflicts coming. :)

Whoa, cliffhanger. This is why I usually stick to already completed fics. Also, I love the way Spike and Buffy tease each other.

May I just say the mental image I have of Spike cutting the grass (in Xander's Hawaiian shirt) pushing a little red lawn mower is one of the most absurd pictures I've ever thought of, so thanks for that hilarious thought.

I love Buffy's training session with Giles. It's so funny when she freaks him out (not just in this chapter, I mean, in general, there are few things that make me laugh more than Giles' shocked face). I also cracked up at that musical phone call. Thanks for the nod to Once More With Feeling. It was a surprisingly great episode.

Ah, Spike, you are indeed a sexy bloke. *chuckles and blushes* Anyway, I like this chapter, it was a good change of tone after all the tragic stuff. Also, it doesn't matter if you sometimes struggle with battle scenes (I hate those too, which is part of why my fanfics remain unfinished on my word processor), because you're good with dialogue and you write everything else wonderfully (angst, fluff, humor, lemons. It's all good. _)

O.O Well, this is officially the most tragic fanfic ever. Or so it seems. Of course, there are way to many chapters left for me to believe Buffy won't be saved soon.

Wow! Now I really am crying. This chapter is the most powerful yet, and it got me all kinds of chocked up, especially Spike's poems and the tidbits about 9/11. It's so sad, but I love it. You really are an expect at writing angst, even if you need some help with the poems. (No shame in that. It's not my strong suit either).

Oh, jeez. I want to cry and hug someone (preferably Dawn or Spike or my sister or maybe even you). I don't normally like Dawn that much, but I loved this chapter. You are just brilliant at humanizing character and making their emotional reactions realistic. This feels like something I'd write if my little sister died. I'd probably have sobbed through this whole chapter if I didn't know Buffy will be alive again soon.

Finally! AU twists that I did not expect! And thanks for not dragging out the cannon parts too much.

To Willow I must say, au contraire, meine Freundin. Ambiguity is great fun, at least for us readers, especially when it leads to you making badass threats. And, to you, dear writer, props for producing the best Spike redeems himself by saving Joyce storyline I've ever come across. You pulled it off quite nicely. I also love that dinner Spike and Buffy had a chapter or so back. You capture the tangled web of their emotions so well!

Well, until the last bit of this chapter I was actually starting to like Riley more than Spike. (A scary first, let me tell you!) I'm impressed with how well you write the good and bad sides of each character. You show Riley's sweet side a lot more than most spuffy authors (but, let's face it, in the end, he's just boring). However, Spike has been such a murderous bastard lately, it is going to take a hell of a lot to redeem him at this point. No wonder this story is so long. :)

Good chapter. I like that Spike has realistic regressions occasionally. It makes everything more believable. Also, I loved the paragraph about Buffy's rings, especially the line: "Buffy felt she was remarkably well-adjusted, considering the life she led." I feel like she doesn't get enough credit in that department.

Your fluffy parts are very cute, but you write angst beautifully.