so william gave her the bracelet. I cant believe buffy didnt have the balls to talk to william about it. But im kinda glad she didnt. I love how shes starting to feel for him or at least it seems that way.

Author's Response: She almost surprised herself with her unwillingness to hurt his feelings. You're right, her own feelings for him are starting to develop. Thanks for the review. :)

aw that was so cute. I loved how he didnt even care about the mess. Gotta love the shy type. awesome chapter

Author's Response: Thank you. :)

Great chapter. I love how william was staring at buffy. Makes me wonder if theres gonna be a crush forming. Cant wait to read on.

Author's Response: I'm glad you like it. Thank you. :)

Oh im so glad she got that job. I cant wait for her to meet william and see her reaction.

Author's Response: I'm glad you liked the chapter. :)

Wow this is a great start. I cant wait to read more.

Author's Response: Thank you. I'm glad you like it. :)

No Daddy!
I hate Angelus in how he treats William and his so called lessons and were it fathers day he would so not get a card I tell you. Loved this new chapter it was really great and I cant wait for more.
My only complaint is its sort of hard to tell storyline wish how much time has past for far is it weeks or months?
I'm looking forward to his Flower child eating and Sex Pistols years :P

Author's Response: ROFL. Your "Father's Day" comment was just hilarious! I called my hubby over to read it, and we were both cracking up. You're right, though, if Angelus were my daddy I certainly wouldn't be sending him any cards. ;) Oh ... and in regards to your question ... I actually fiddled with the timeline a little after posting (I made this chapter begin in summer instead of spring). But, to answer your question, here's the sequence of events: Buffy arrived in London on November 5th, 1879. She was hired by Anne a little over two weeks after this. She met William a few weeks later, in early December of 1879. Cecily's ball was on January 11th of 1880. William's thirty-first birthday was on March 31, 1880, and he and Buffy became engaged very late that same night. Buffy disappeared on April 4, 1880, and William was turned on April 5th. William rose as a vampire on April 8th. He spent the spring of 1880 with Angelus, Darla, and Dru in London, before they had to flee to Yorkshire, where he began to call himself "Spike". He stayed in Yorkshire two nights, and then he and Dru went to Italy. They arrived in Italy in early summer (I didn't specify an exact date, but it would have been after June 21), and he met the Slayer ten days later. He and the Slayer fought most of the summer, and then she was killed. Spike remained in Italy until late Autumn, 1880, and this is where Angelus arrives and Chapter Thirty-Five ends. Phew. That took a while! But I hope you found it helpful. :) Thanks for taking the time to review!

It is so sad to see Spike still thinks of Elizabeth in his fantasy of what their life could have been and how he wanted to bring her here and the life they might have had but I do not lose hope on these too to quote The Princess Bride "Death cannot stop true love it only delays it for a while"
I am glad he has Dru to be there for him even if she is not who he really needs at least he is not alone in this.
I think with Angelus coming to Italy it won't be such a bad thing cause show wise we did not know the exact location he got his soul back so it could be here and if so it will be interesting to see how his souling and treatment of William may or may not change.
Great updateonce again I am dying for more

Author's Response: In season two's "Becoming" they did actually name Romania as the location where Angelus regained his soul. Romania is in southeastern Europe, bordering the Ukraine. So, canon-wise, Angelus would not be regaining his soul in Italy. However ... I'm not exactly following canon here, so you never know what might happen. ;) I agree completely with your assessment of the Spike/Dru relationship. She can't replace his true love; he can't fall in love with her. But she offers him affection, comfort, and companionship; that's something he sorely needs right now. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying that aspect of the story. Thank you for reviewing. :)

This update is, as usual, awesome. I can't wait for the next one.

You know, I was never a fan of Drusilla or of the Spike/Drusilla relationship. However, the way you've written their relationship has really made me love them together and see how they need each other.

Please update soon!

Author's Response: I'm very glad you said that about Spike and Drusilla. A few people have told me how uncomfortable they feel about this relationship. I think some readers feel that William/Spike is being unfaithful to Elizabeth's memory by having a relationship with Dru. In reality, it's his grief for Elizabeth that makes him seek comfort from Dru. Also, I can't imagine that someone as tenderhearted as William/Spike could look at someone as broken as Drusilla -- someone he lived with, someone who loved him -- and not feel some desire to protect her. Spike always struck me as a very nuturing person on the show, and I really wanted to convey that here. In my story, his relationship with Dru is more familial than romantic, but he does love her, and he wants to take care of her. And that doesn't diminish his love for Elizabeth at all. I'm glad you appreciate that and enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. :)

Hey your back great turn of events going on here with spike and his learning to be a better vampire. Love to see more soon

Author's Response: I'm working on the next chapter now. Thanks for reading and reviewing. :)

So they were in Rome for a while like months before Angelus and Darla caught up with them or found them. At least Spike had some time alone to himself to go after his own interests. I think some time alone will make him strong and he won't fold under the pressure of Angelus turning back up with his gross ways. I get so excited every time I see a new chapter come up this is one of my favorite stories.


Author's Response: I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to review. :)

I have been horrible at reviewing this story, but I have been hanging on to every chapter, checking everyday for an update--- I am blown away by your mastery of writing, and your skill in plot-- too many authors lack one or both of these qualities, and it is a joy to find an author who is simply brilliant.

I have a couple questions regarding the story that you would perhaps not like to answer lest you give away too much, but I am curious. :)

Time travel stories are always fun because there are so many different theories as to how time travel works.

Did Buffy, in going back in time, *change* the past, or are you deviating from the show's established plot for how Spike was turned? While some are anal about canon, I think that half the fun of writing comes from being able to play with the timeline, and since, as I said, each person writes time travel differently, I wasn't sure which track you were taking.

Thank you so much for this amazing story--truly epic! I can't wait for more!

Author's Response: How very nice of you to say! I'm glad you think so highly of my writing. :) Without giving away any plot secrets I will say that, so far, I have been weaving bits of canon with my own original scenes. I don't think it's possible for Buffy to have spent time with William and *not* change the past. But then there's also the possibility of Destiny and the paths our feet are set on no matter what. So, to answer your question ... you'll just have to read to find out. ;) Thanks so much for reviewing! :)

Very well written more soon please.

Author's Response: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. :)

Emiliana is such a pretty name I must remmember that. I loved this new update and laughed at Spike not minding Dru killing off the people for their apartment cause of the ugly wallpaper.
Maybe its good A. showed up cause Italy's purpose burned out with the slayer dying I cant remember the time line if they are off to the Boxer Reb. after this or what but I look forward to more of this story.

Author's Response: I'm glad you like the name. I chose it because its meaning is "Rival" which I thought was singularly appropriate, given her role in the story. In regards to the timeline, the Boxer Rebellion took place in China during 1900. As of the end of Chapter Thirty-Five, it is late autumn of 1880, so we still have a ways to go before Spike gets a crack at the Chinese Slayer. Thanks for reviewing. :)