All right!! I;ve been waiting ALL week for this chapter! Wonderful interaction between them and Gunn is just adorable.

Don't make me wait too long!!

Smooches!



Author's Response: Oh I'm so happy you like Gunn, he just seemed so perfect for this fic and I've always wanted to write him. I promise I won't make you wait long sweety. I should be updating sometime this week if everything goes smoothly. Thank you for the awesome review darling, hugs.

Oh I love it, so Spike is going back to being a regular soldier, does it mean they will be stationed together. I love the questions Buffy asked Gunn.
More please.

Author's Response: Yup, that he is and glad you liked Buffy's question. To answer yours, I maaaaaaaaaay have foreshadowed a bit as to their future, giggles. Thanks for the great review darling, hugs.

great chapter, I like Spike more and more if thats possible. The sandwich thing was so sweet, as the rest of it, upadate soon please, please,please.

Author's Response: Oh wow, that's awesome, I'm glad you're liking Spike more - I was trying so hard to make everyone hate him, but he had to have a few 'weak Buffy moments'. Thanks for the awesome review honey - chappy five will be posted sometime this week.

as always loved it lots and lots. glad you graced us all with another update. also glad spike realized (if only a little bit) that he is crushing on ms. summers. staying away from her may not make things better for him but when does spike's plans ever work out??? lol. loved it lots and lots. please PLEASE post soon.

Author's Response: Awww, thank you very much sweety - I love to entertain with S&B going at it whether a battle of wills or pugils, lol. Spike's plan, as you guessed, is going to backfire on him... the guestion is, will he be happier as a result. I'm sooooo teasing you right now, cuz I'm super psyched about the next chapter now that it's nearly finished. Smoochies to you hon - I'll update sometime this week.

Oh, I can't wait for the next chapter! I love this story! More please!

Author's Response: Awww, thankee sweety. Look for chapter 5 sometime this week and I do hope you enjoy it.

love love LOVE this story!!!! I cant wait for the next update!!!!

Author's Response: Giggles, glad you enjoy it sweety, thanks for the awesome review.

are you updating tonight!??!
I've been looking forward all week.
also I've been baking.
I think it's a procrastination thing... but this story is so great!!

Author's Response: I wish it was procrastination holding me up on posting sweety, but alas it's been RL stuff this week. I hope to post by this weekend, we'll see. I'm busy working on it now, I promise hon, thanks so much.

I really love this! Quite a unique idea and even though I didn't serve in the military, many of my family did with 2 uncles making it a career and boy have I head the horror stories of basic from everyone, my brother, my dad and even a couple of nephews! And I used to date a marine and a guy in the navy -- not at the same time of course. (I'm pretty sure with the rivalry between those two branches I was breaking some law even mentioning them in the same sentence), so between them, my airforce borther and my army dad... well I can appreciate what your experience might of been and am thankful I didn't have to experience it first hand. You have my utter respect for your accomplishments and my undying gratitude for your service to our country (okay, I guess I should actually review the tale now and stop getting all maudlin).

I especially love the fact that you've placed them in an evniroment where the tension can build and build but where any action on their part could really be an issue for both their careers. I know you've thrown Lindsey and his "inappropriate behavior" in for a reason so I can't wait for that boot to drop!

You are an excellent writer and I look forward to your updates! Many thanks for sharing! Oh and I love your humor too! More please.

Author's Response: Oh wow, that's so neat you've had so much of your family in the service. I can imagine the stories they must have told you, it's not just a job, its an adventure, be all you can be, and the host of other military sayings, LOL. Oh my, saying marines in the same sentence, uh-oh, giggles. I dated a marine once and had one as a roomate in my civilian days - they're a.......... unique bunch in that they like to stand out alone. I appreciate your kind words sweety, it was an honor to do my time and part for my country - wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm so thrilled you're enjoying the fic, it has been too much fun to write what with all the funny things that can happen during boot camp. I think I liked using this scenario not only b/c of that but b/c of what you mentioned... nothing can happen between 2 people while in that setting - so let the UST build baby. Thanks so much for the lovely review hon, I'm very happy to see you here, smooches.

Would've loved to know exactly what Spike was picturing behind his closed eyelids there at the end! But alas, we're only on ch.3 and have plenty of time for hot Spuffyness!

Author's Response: Hee hee, I thought about going there, describing what he pictured but I didn't want to potentially detract from the main event when it happens, giggles. Thanks for the lovely review darling, smooches.

Wow, I just started to read this fic and I really like.

I just can't believe you went through all that. My most sicere respects to you.

Just a question, Isn't a Federal Offence to read somebody else correspondence? I'm not so sure about that in the army.

Cant wait to read the next chappie right away.

Ash.

Author's Response: LMAO, well, it was no picnic, but lots of people do it. I guess I really wanted to join and in so doing, there's some crap you have to put up with until you're settled into the regular lifestyle of it. I'm not up on the laws, but I know it's a federal offense to open or steal someone elses mail. As for reading it? I'm not so sure. But hey, it's just a fic and I needed Spike to know a little something about Buffy's intimate life, giggles. I'm very happy you're enjoying the story hon, thanks for the great review, hugs.

Ok-how long did you stare at pictures of naked men to get that very detailed description of half naked Spike? People have no idea the hardships writers must go through to perfect their work.;-) And Xander's line...so perfect...little do both he and Buffy know how true that is. I am glad that Buffy is finally getting to see a softer side to Spike. Him with the twins and Fred was very cute. It is such fun watching both Buffy and Spike be in such denial about the attraction and I love the fact that she is as attracted as he is!! I almost fell out of my chair when Spike started slapping himself in the car. I was wondering how he would explain that if Buffy saw him doing it. Then when she handed him the change, I thought for a second he was going to kiss her, cause the ust was soo thick. I have a feeling when these two do finally get together, the building will go up in flames. As always, great work!!! I shall wait with bated breath (and possibly a fire extinguisher) for the next installment.

Author's Response: Giggles, wellllll, I stared at the pic Kitty made for the fic actually - she captured it so well, mm mmm good. Writing is definetely a craft that never ceases to force me to improve, so what can I do, but to practice, practice, practice. Glad you liked Xander's little line and Gunn's children with their Uncle Spike. Spike is a good man underneath it all, he just needs to have his layers peeled off forciably, giggles. They are definetely both attracted to each other, and it's that right there that will bring them together initially. Much later down the road, he'll get the girl, but for now, UST baby. Oh I soooo loved writing that slapping scene, he's trying so hard to bare in mind the innapropriatenss of his thoughts - poor boy. It would have been nice to have a kissing mometn in the car, but at this point, she would have been like, what are you doing, you hate me remember. Oh yes, the UST is going to build to a point where it wil be like a nuclear blast when it goes off - sighs, I like that kind of fic, so I knew I had to try writing one. Thanks so much for the awesome review hon, big smoochies to you.

The breakup with Angel was well devised, and I like that all we had was Spike's POV, watching but not hearing the event. Spike's baiting with the pugil sticks was also well written, and I could feel the anger building in Buffy as Spike taunted her. Thanks for letting her get some of her own back, and Spike's role there made him a bit more sympathetic.

You're doing a great job keeping each of the characters in voice, even in these completely different roles. Having Lindsey in the background is adding another layer of tension to this entertaining story.

Author's Response: Thanks sweety, I felt Angel would only serve one real purpose in this fic and as soon as he did, it was asta la vista baby. Oh Buffy was furious over the pugil incident and Spike cruelly taunting her about Cordelia and her boyfriend... sent her over the edge. He needed a good swat to the head and to land on his ass for that one. I'm pleased that you're enjoying the characters and their personalities in this setting. I love a good challenge and well the army, with the btvs and ats characters in it, definetely poses one, giggles. I loved your review hon and I appreciate it more than you know, thanks so much. Smooches.

I really like this story. I'm glad that you posted another chapter so quickly.

I like the army angle...

Author's Response: Awww, thank you hon, glad I was able to hand out another chappy so soon - it's been mega fun to write. Glad the army angle is something you're enjoying as well. Thank you for such a wonderful review sweety, hugs.