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What Is To Be

-Sixteenth-

By Annie

2003-10-03

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Buffy reached over to grab another of the ten or so books placed out - all opened - on the research table of the conference room. As she did the movement she had to lean partially over Spike and his left arm slid around her waist as she was about to straighten herself up again, making her stop her movement half way with her lips dangerously close to his as she looked up at him. She smiled, he returned it. Then she moved her head forward and kissed him softly, ending it the same way before returning to her former position and looking at the book she had gotten.

"Wow," she said, flipping it shut and reading the title with a frown on before she turned her head to him, adding: "This makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever."

He smirked at that, glancing at the title as well and then saying:

"It's in Latin."

"I KNOW it's in Latin," she huffed, putting the book down.

"You... speak Latin?" he inquired and she gave him a friendly glare at the skepticism in his voice, then replied:

"No. Well, unless you count 'Et tu, mon Bruté' and I only know THAT 'cause of my liking of English men," she finished with a coy smile and girlish flutter of her eyelashes at him, making his smirk widen before he cleared his throat and stated:

"Points for Shakespearian love, love, but actually that sentence is in French... So it doesn't count."

She stared at him for a moment as though she was about to offer an objection, and then she seemingly thought better of it and a pout settled on her lips instead.

"I'm useless," she muttered and he laughed.

"With a stake you're unstoppable," he said and she looked at him glumly, waiting for the good part and he smiled. "And with a dictionary and the right, subtle help to give you a few pointers I'm sure you'd be just as unstoppable in world-of-never-read-for-fun-books," he assured, grabbing the volume at one corner and waving it meaningfully before he rose to his feet and walked up to the shelf still terribly weighed with the Investigations' extensive collection of notes and leather-bands of information.

Buffy watched him for a moment before she rose as well, coming up to him and making him stop his hand from following the row of bonded book-backs as he searched for the right one. He met her gaze as her fingers locked with his and she said:

"I really hope YOU'RE that 'right, subtle help', 'cause I know I can use the pointers."

He smiled.

"I think you should start with reading between the lines," he mumbled as she stepped closer to him, her free hand sliding over his abs and to his side before traveling to his back.

"Between the lines?" she asked and he nodded, wetting his lips as hers drew closer.

"Many texts have well-hidden messages in them... you just need to spot them," he said and she cocked an eyebrow.

"Lesson the first?" she asked and he paused before he smiled at her input, making him remember.

"Here it endeth," he grumbled as her lips now brushed against his and they parted, ready to taste her when Angel stuck his head through the doorway, saying:

"Get a room."

Spike bit his jaws together in irritation.

"We're IN a room," he shot and Angel smirked.

"Another room, then," he replied, clearing his throat before he added: "Susannah's just woken up. She's in the kitchen... I just thought I should let you guys know... you know."

Buffy looked at her watch, and as it showed it was close to ten she was surprised at the realization that they'd actually been looking through the books for nearly two hours, searching for more information on the history of Satoch and Aatoch and its ties to the prophecy. So far they had managed to find a whole lot of differently and eloquently written versions of the exact same things they already knew.

With all the glances-pretending-not-to-be-glances and touches-pretending-to- be-innocent-casual-brush-ups that had been going on between them during that time, they really hadn't been able to clear that much reading. Exactly as they had both planned it. Well, they had gone through enough material to come to the conclusion that there wasn't enough for any of it to bring forth any original clues.

All Buffy wished right then, however, was to have a few more rows of facts to go over. Remembering the slight panic and real anxiety and very heavy jealousy she herself had felt at the very thought of Spike being in love with another woman... She didn't exactly feel up to facing Susannah in the midst of her own delirious love-buzz as she knew that HER heart was safe. Breaking the brunette's felt like something so completely out of the equation.

There was a history between the ex-vampire and his new found confidant of which the Slayer knew nothing. She merely got that they had become close, close enough for Susannah to develop feelings. And Spike, he cared for her a lot - Buffy could tell that easily. She supposed it might have been simpler to turn to a stranger for support, than to his former grandsire who would only remind him of what he used to be and what he was so heavy burdened by guilt from, or to people he knew would remind him of Sunnydale - and her - when he was trying to let that go...

Angel had already pulled his head out of the doorway, and Buffy realized she was under the scrutiny of Spike's probing gaze as he watched her face.

"Sorry," she said with a smile. "Guess I zoned out for a moment..."

He still didn't say anything and she rested her eyes in his as her expression began to grow questioning.

"I have to speak with her," he finally stated and she wasn't surprised by it in the least.

"Of course," she said, snaking her arms around his waist and stepping into him as he held her back. "Of course," she repeated and he smiled a little.

"This agreeing with me is pretty nice," he then smirked and her smile widened.

"This being near you agrees with ME," she mumbled, giving him a quick kiss on the lips as she stood on her toes, and then adding: "Now go. Talk. I just want her to know, to be okay... Think she'll be okay?"

Spike thought for a second before he answered:

"She said she'd be happy for me... I hope she meant it."

***

Susannah turned her head to him when he leaned against the frame of her door, five minutes later.

She had brought her breakfast with her upstairs, still feeling slightly queasy if she walked around for too long she thought it would be best to squander the morning in bed. Her limbs ached for motion after all the hours they had already spent in stillness, but her head began to let her feel a soft throb in each temple after only a few minutes on her feet and so she didn't want to push it.

When her eyes now met his, her first thought was that he was there to ask her how she felt, and whether or not she would be strong enough to attend the morning meeting. She knew Angel was eager to fill the others in on what she had told him and Spike last night, but she was also aware that he wouldn't disclose the information before she could sit amongst them, and she felt grateful for that.

But then the look on Spike's face made her suddenly understand exactly why he was there.

She swallowed and forced a smile, her heart beat slowing and her flesh feeling as though it was lifting off her bones as shivers of discomfort and undeniable disappointment rolled across it.

"I..." he began, but she shook her head and made him stop.

"Please, let's not," she grumbled with another half-hearted smile, fighting back the tears and wanting him to just leave. "So, she loves you then?"

He hesitated as he could see the pained expression in her eyes, but then he nodded.

"She does," he confirmed.

"All is finally right with the world," she said, trying to keep her voice from growing strained as she added: "Could you do me a favor and tell Angel I will be down for the meeting?"

"Sannah..." he tried, but she put one hand up, breaking eye-contact as she looked away from him and he took the hint, leaving her alone.

***

"I feel so bad..." Buffy grumbled, curled up on Spike's lap, one hand playing with a few bleached strands in his neck and her forehead leaned partially against his. "I wish there was something I could do," she added and Spike moved his head to look at her.

"There isn't," he said honestly. "And I'm not gonna spend my first day with you worrying about me wanting to be close to you upsetting someone else. I bloody refuse to."

She held his gaze for a few moments and then leaned forward to kiss him softly.

"I bloody refuse to, too," she agreed and he smirked.

"Okay," Angel's voice was heard as he walked through the foyer, "everybody in the conference room!"

Since this room was the one the Slayer and her mortal found themselves in they exchanged a look and then Buffy slid off his lap to sit on a chair next to him instead. They wouldn't hide their feelings, but they didn't have any reason to rub it in.

Angel entered through the doorway and as he took his seat the others began to trot in as well. Susannah followed Cordelia and Buffy met the formers gaze tentatively. Susannah didn't keep her eyes in the blonde's for long before she glanced at Spike. Then she focused her attention on Angel as she sat down as well, across the table from Gunn who was now sitting next to Buffy. Wesley was the last to join the ensemble and once he had chosen a chair for himself a hushed silence of anticipation fell over all of them.

"Last night," Angel spoke up, bringing forward a plastic folder and throwing it onto the table as he continued with: "Buffy and I were able to get these. Go ahead, look them over," he encouraged, finishing: "Wesley has already spent a good couple of hours with them. What do you think?"

Wesley looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he replied:

"I'm afraid to say it."

This sentence made him the center of focus straight away and Cordelia, who had opened the folder and was looking over the first three pictures which she had spread out before her on the table, looked up questioningly.

"I don't believe this is our prophecy," Wesley finally confessed and the silence this time grew thick with doubt. "In fact, I am quite certain it is not."

Buffy blinked, turning her head back to Angel who looked as taken aback by this as the rest of the assembly.

"But... it seemed to fit," Buffy then said, eyes back on Wesley who nodded.

"It did," he agreed. "But in comparison there are details which do not, and I'm afraid they are too large to overlook, or even bypass. The language is the same, but the text you two photographed is clearly written down later than our prophecy is; perhaps even a good century or so. It isn't the missing part. I'm sorry. For all our sake, I'm sorry."

"There's more, though," Angel now intercepted. "As all know last night something else happened. Susannah... Well, I'm not exactly sure how to put this... so, I won't. William?"

Spike gave a crooked smile, then nodded as he got to his feet. The hand holding one of Buffy's giving it a squeeze before he let it go, his eyes going to Susannah, who seemed reluctant in meeting them.

He wished he didn't have to hurt her. He wished love wasn't so much about pain, and causing it to other people unintentionally. But that was a side to life of which he had no control, and wishing it away wouldn't make it disappear. He had to let it go, it was out of his hands.

"'And on the fifth day a great echo shall roll across the plain and valley, reminding those who forgot,'" he said. "It's the third piece of the first part of our prophecy... The two previous pieces were clarified when Buffy arrived and when we got confirmation of 'the people' being a reference to the demon aspect of the world. And now the third... was brought into a more real light when it happened to Susannah last night."

Buffy frowned, looking at Susannah and having the thoughts of how she was dealing with everything being replaced by the push to know more of the details. To get to the depth with this whole thing once and for all. This prophecy's elusiveness had been bugging the Slayer long enough now; she was ready to discover something useful for a change. Therefore she asked:

"When you said you heard a voice... could you place it?"

Susannah turned her eyes in Buffy's and for the first time that morning she truly looked at her before she answered, saying:

"No, I couldn't. But I felt like I knew it..."

She trailed off, exchanging a look with Spike this time and he seemed as though quietly urging her on, making her draw a small breath before she addressed all of them as she picked the thread up again.

"It whispered the name of the forgotten god," she said. "It was the echo referred to in the text... It repeated 'Satoch' over and over and I..." She shook her head a little, clearly uncomfortable. "It grew louder and louder 'til finally I couldn't take it anymore and I... collapsed, as I guess you all noticed."

She looked around at them, and when she didn't seem apt to add anything more Buffy felt compelled to ask:

"What about the whole 'reminding those who forgot', then? Did you forget? What did you forget? The god? How could you have?"

"I don't know," Susannah cut in with a defeated look on her face. "I'm really sorry, okay? But I don't know."

"But you're linked to it," Buffy said, incredulous. "To the prophecy."

"Not necessarily," Angel chimed in. "Nothing's for certain yet."

"God, nothing ever is, is it?" Buffy asked, not sure why her emotions were suddenly getting the better of her, but unable to hold them down as she rose to her feet. "Excuse me," she said, sidestepping her way around her chair before exiting the room.

Four days left until what? What was going to thrash itself upon them this time? Why couldn't they get one tiny lead that actually made sense? Why was a part of her so eager to blame it all on that young woman in there? Why did she feel as though Susannah knew Spike better than she did?

She stopped halfway through the garden, out into which her legs had seemingly taken her on their own accord; putting her arms up and around herself as she closed her eyes.

She knew the answer to that last question, and she understood that it was the real reason for her upset.

She felt like that because Susannah, in a way, did know him better. Susannah had spent hours talking, getting to know William. Falling head over heels for him, naturally. Poor girl.

Buffy opened her eyes again and walked over to the stone bench on which she had sat that very first evening of revelation, sat next to him. Now she sat down on the spot she had been in then, and drew a breath.

She hadn't thought it would feel this weird, but every nuance of Spike's interaction with Susannah was a whipping reminder of how he had spent the past six months with this woman. Six months where Buffy had been in torment and loss... But she couldn't dwell on that! She had him back now, and he loved her. He loved her still!

And some things Susannah would never know; would never be forced to accept. The history which had spurred the birth of Buffy's love for him would be something Susannah would never even be able to imagine. He was a part of the Slayer now, of her whole youth and growth into who she was... Nothing could compromise that, or the significance of it. It had been a slow, painful, emotional ride, but without it they wouldn't have gotten to where they now were.

And she did know him. She just needed to learn more of him...

"Buffy?"

She looked up at the sound of Susannah's voice and beat back the need to mumble "Think of the devil" before she smiled a little as a welcome for the other to join her. Susannah did, though it was hesitant as she stepped through the glass doors and approached the Slayer.

"I just wanted to see if you were all right," the former said as she came to as stop by the bench.

"I am," Buffy assured. "Quite dandy, in fact... It's just all this trouble we've gone through so far. Spike getting hurt and then the whole 'sneaking' at the party giving us nothing and you... Sorry," she stopped herself, "didn't mean to treat you like some other scrabble piece."

"I understand," Susannah replied with a shrug. "I wanna see this resolved as much as you do, maybe even more. We've been on this since I came here, you know?" she reminded before pausing, then adding: "And... scrabble?"

Buffy smirked.

"Yeah - form a word, win the game... I've used up the supply of puzzle analogies handed out, I think," she answered and Susannah smiled as well.

"You must've seen this whole thing play out about a million times before though, right?" she then asked, slowly taking a seat on the other side of the bench. "The end-of-the-world concept, I mean."

"Not a million," Buffy shook her head. "Just six or seven."

"Oh," Susannah said.

They grew quiet and Buffy wondered what she should say. Or should not. Finally Susannah broke through the stillness as she stated:

"You're a really lucky woman."

Buffy swallowed, then nodded a little.

"I know."

"Do you?" Susannah asked, making the other turn her head and look at her. "Really? Because that man in there, there's nothing he wouldn't do for you. That sort of love is so rare... you have to take care of it. Promise me you will."

"I'll promise myself," Buffy replied simply. "Because I love him too."

"But for such a long time you didn't."

"That's true," Buffy said. "But for a long time he didn't give me good reason to. I can't possibly even begin to explain it to you, but trust me on this - he hasn't always been like you see him now. He used to be so hard... he seemed so untouchable back then. You know what they say - that the first impression lasts? I just couldn't believe him. For so many years I didn't believe in him. And now I'm ready to begin making up for the things I did... that harmed him. I think the past is what makes us who we are, and so I can't ever hold his past against him. I love him for everything he is, Susannah. And believe me, I know exactly how lucky I am to have him loving me back."

Susannah looked at her for a long minute and then she nodded.

"Fine then," she said, getting to her feet.

Buffy furrowed her brow slightly, wondering exactly what that meant as the other suddenly had seemed so drained of that force of life always so evident on her.

"I'm sorry if..." Buffy began, but Susannah huffed and thus cut her off mid- sentence.

"Spare me," she said, her eyes suddenly cold before they flashed back into an expression of pure kindness as a smile spread on her lips. "Sorry, I'm still tired. From last night, I mean. Just a bit on the having-a-bad-mood- day side, I guess. And there are other factors in play on that account, I suppose," she added with a sigh. "I'm going upstairs for a while, I think. Get some sleep before lunch. Be a doll and tell Angel for me, would you? I hate to make him worry."

Buffy nodded and watched the other walk out of the garden and back into the hotel.

There was a slight frown on the Slayer's face as she rose as well, heading back into the foyer and stopping in a moment's tentativeness before she proceeded up to the doorway of the conference room. Everybody else were still gathered, still discussing what they had so far and still turning it as they tried to view it from different angles.

"You okay?" Spike asked to her left and she turned her head to him with a smile before she came up to sit next to him.

"Yeah, I'm good. I was just wondering something," she then replied and he raised his eyebrows. "Well, how much do you know about Susannah, exactly?"

"How do you mean 'exactly'?" he asked back and she didn't know how to put this delicately enough for him not to get defensive and so she spoke slowly, hoping the words would come out of her mouth in an orderly fashion.

"Well... where was she born? Where is she from? What are her parent's names? How old is she?"

Spike furrowed his brow.

"You don't really think she has anything to do with all this, do you?" he then wondered and she shrugged.

"Can you give me straight answers for all those questions?" she inquired, squirming away from what he had wanted to know as she hadn't the proper reply yet.

"She's an orphan," he then said simply.

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"That's it?" she asked. "That's the answer to all of them?"

"Well... she's twenty-one," he then stated and she gave him a look. "Buffy," he merely responded, almost with reprimand and she crossed her arms over her chest, beginning to feel a slight annoyance. "She's bloody HELPED us during the entire time she's been here!" he now said and as his voice had grown just one volume louder the rest of the conversation in the room came to a stop as everybody's heads turned their way. "I know her, Buffy, she couldn't hurt a fly!"

"And yet," Buffy retorted, "she managed to kill a Jade with her bare hands."

Spike had no comeback for that as he had to let the sentence get duly noted; realizing with a chill that Buffy was right.

"But that could have been caused by anything..." he grumbled, not even able to convince himself and as Buffy cocked an eyebrow he shook his head. "Adrenaline?" he tried and she smiled, condescendingly, though he could see the small warmth behind it and knew she meant nothing by it.

"Does anyone know anything about this girl?" she now asked, turning her gaze to Angel.

"Everything she told me panned out, Buffy," he replied. "You thought I didn't check her out before I opened my up my doors to her?"

"No," Buffy said. "I didn't. So, then - share."

"Her mother and father died when she was ten in a plane crash... She lived with her aunt for a year and then she stayed with a foster family for four years before she left. She wouldn't say why and I got the feeling they hadn't treated her in the best way... She's been on her own ever since."

Buffy got a thoughtful look on her face as she put the information in the appropriate placing in her head and then something clicked, making her eyes widen slightly.

"What about the bottle?" she asked and Angel looked questioning. "You told me that the night she got here she was mumbling about a bottle," she elaborated and Angel nodded.

"Yes, and we did some research on it while she was pretty out of it, but when she came to she had no idea why she had been talking about it and we had to let it go... since we had absolutely nothing else to go on. She said it was okay, though. Thought it couldn't have been important if she couldn't remember anything about it," he finished and Buffy frowned.

"Isn't that a bit odd?" she asked and Angel looked wondering.

"Why? She was a truly distraught being when she got here, confused for over a month of who she actually was and where she came from... She was in bad shape and we were up to our necks in the research of the prophecy..." he trailed off as he could see the Slayer wheels of Buffy's brain working feverishly. "What?" he asked and she put on an innocent look as she replied:

"I didn't say anything."

"We could all hear you thinking, love," Spike teased and she smiled a little at him before she lifted one shoulder in a dismissive gesture.

"There's a dog buried here," she merely stated.

"Should we dig it up?" Susannah's voice sounded from the doorway and Buffy sat herself up straight as she turned her head that way, rather surprised. "Or is it best to let sleeping dogs lie?" the former added as she stepped into the room.

Her face was pale and her skin glistened with a light coating of perspiration. She looked ill, her eyes glazed over, but her posture was composed and her impression full of strength. Buffy stared at her as the latter slowly walked passed her to continue around the table, once more speaking up.

"I believe I have a right to be part of this discussion; after all, it seems it largely concerns me, doesn't it?" Her eyes in Buffy's as the last two words were spoken, her gaze hard and Buffy felt every nerve in her suddenly put on alert. "I think it's actually bad manners to talk about someone behind their back," Susannah now added, having completed one lap around the table as she stopped before the Slayer, the expression in her eyes now baring a challenge Buffy wasn't sure she could decipher.

"I didn't mean for it to seem..." she began, but Susannah let out a flat laugh, shaking her head.

"It doesn't 'seem'," she then replied, the sarcasm in her voice difficult to miss. "It IS precisely that. Talking behind my back, spreading little lies... Thinking you know me, when you don't."

"No, I don't," Buffy agreed, her own eyes now meeting the challenge dead on and not faltering for one second. "That's the issue here, isn't it?" she added and Susannah smirked ironically.

"Well, I know all about you," she then stated, voice lowered. "I know how you thrive on misinterpreting others intentions, all the while covering up your own mistakes and cowardly inhibitions. How you love to stab others in the back..."

"Susannah," Spike cut in, his tone sharp and she turned her eyes at him with a look that said he should stay the hell out of it, before turning her gaze in Buffy's once more.

"You think you're better than me," Susannah said and Buffy narrowed her eyes before rising to her feet to face the other.

Susannah was nearly one head taller than the blonde, and yet Buffy's presence easily broke away to tower over the younger woman's.

"I do not," the Slayer disagreed and Susannah smiled gently.

"You think you're above me," she then stated with clear conviction.

"No, I..." Buffy began, but before she could react she was suddenly flying across the room, hitting the wall with such force that she lost her breath and slipped to the floor as she lost her sense of balance completely.

The hand of Susannah's which had preformed the deed was still outstretched before her until she slowly lowered her arm and let it rest along her side. Spike had risen to his feet and now he took a step towards her, but at the dark look still in her eyes he stopped himself.

"She isn't worthy," Susannah said.

And then Buffy's foot connected with her stomach and the brunette flew through the doorway, landing with a hard thud on the floor and rolling two times before she stopped, her eyes closed as Buffy came after her, but they opened before the Slayer reached her side and she moved onto her stomach, quickly getting to her feet to once again face the other.

"You can't win this," Buffy said and Susannah smiled again, though this time it was laced with a self-confident wickedness which Buffy had never witnessed on the latter before.

"But I can," she replied, her voice growing into one not even resembling her own as it became darker and she added: "And I will."

Buffy stared at her relentlessly, ready for the other to just move one muscle. Susannah held her gaze steadily for a stretch of two minutes wrapped in growing shock as the others stood cramped in the doorway bearing witness to the scene.

"The jealousy rips her in two," Susannah then spoke, still with the deep voice in her throat and her eyes flashed in fiery red as she moved forward, exclaiming: "Deep down she wishes you dead!"

Buffy blocked the punch, about to be delivered, with one arm and then moved the other to grab Susannah's throat. But Susannah was too fast, averting the movement with her own free hand and then delivering a skull-to-skull blow, making Buffy see stars as she stumbled backward. Susannah spun around and her foot hit its goal of the Slayer's chin, making the latter tumble heavily to the floor.

"I always knew I could take you," Susannah stated, not yet free of the other voice, before she smiled.

But Buffy kicked out one leg and swiped the others legs out from under her. Susannah gave a cry of surprise before the sound of the back of her head connecting harshly with the hard floor hit like a thunderclap against all their ears.

Unconscious she lay completely still and Buffy rolled onto her back with a huff.

"'I always knew I could take you'," she then mimicked, irritated. "Made you think twice, didn't I?" she added as she sat up and glared at the lifeless body of the other.

Then she turned her head to the assembled audience and raised her eyebrow meaningfully as she said:

"Something tells me we should definitely get some shovels - 'cause here's one dog in dire need of digging up."

**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************

Right now I am floating on small little blue clouds (because that is my favorite color) (and no, James and his eyes were not the ones who provoked this, it's been with me since I was two years old and got to pick which color I wanted my Nan to use when she knitted me a sweater, thank you very much). Right now there has been some sadness in my life and I want to thank all of you for all your wonderful, funfilled, humorous, detailed or not detailed, always present reviews because they get me so high up there and without them - no little blue clouds to keep me from dropping like the bag of flesh and bones that I am!

Well, the delay with this chapter has been mainly caused by a havoc in our computer. Our Internet is out, and then I mean out, and has been so for nearly over a week now. It bites monkey's ass, me knowest this, but there's nothing I can do about it, unfortunately. (Poor thing has to keep biting monkey's ass 'til we can get some kind of repair man to fix the problem). And now most of you clever little minds are going - wait, isn't this chapter just posted? And why, yes, it IS! But I'm at my dad's office (whoopdidoo) and so there's the explanation. We shall fix the Net problem pronto, though! Or at least a.s.a.p. I can only pray that it was worth the wait and that you're not too disappointed in me. There, that is said.

Special and straight-out-of-Spike's-tight-pants-hot thanks to samson (I'm happy!) :), Winters1 (glad to read that you like that it has a plot! And certainly that you're liking it!) :), maribel (*lol* I actually agree!) ;), Keleven (NICE! Just, ugh, don't shine it in my eyes like that! *smile* Just kidding, shine it anywhere you like, I love the sight of it! And PLEASE no! PLEASE no more spoilers, even if they're loosely based! Pretty, pretty! Great that you're enjoying this, though!) :), SinisterChic (cool you approve!) :), darklover (wonderful, hope this was as good then!) :), Captain (Oh, I wish I could see the eps! But don't tell me, okay? I'm just not ready for all of that yet. I'll go in a read about it in due time. :) I'm glad you're reaction was positive, anyways!) :), Xionin (Wow, I wasn't sure anyone still wanted me to update In the Dead, but I'm glad you told me! :) I am struggling with my muse on that one though, she's mad at me for leaving her hanging around with nothing to do for so long! I WILL get her back in gear, just need to butter her up a little, k? And in all that metaphoric mumbo-jumbo was a small hint at me not finding it easy-easy to jump right back into that story. More about that a few paragraphs down, though. AND I am SO glad you enjoyed THIS fic! Thank you! Nice to see your name up there!) :), Night (More than fabullous to read that. I'm so happy you think that well of me!) :), Mel (Firstly, SO nice that you reviewed both. On 14th: *smirk* I believe I would have too! And thank you for the heavy flattery! :) And what do you think of Susannah now? Hee hee. On 15th: dream telling? Should I put that on my list? ;) I luv those happy chappies too!) ;), Amidalasky Snape (Sound like a character right out of Harry Potter! ;) Cool. OH! The 320 thing-y was just Buffy exaggerating a teensy- weensy. Sorry, didn't mean for it to come off as she meant it! Great you liked it!) :), Rachel9 (Ohhhhh, I'm so happy you enjoyed it and thanks for writing your enthusiasm down for me! *smiles extra wide* So great!) :), Caitlin (So nice to read that you enjoyed chapter 14! And hey, computer trouble seem to be going around right now. Oh gosh, maybe I got it from YOU! *smirk* Nah, but it sucks when it happens. Oh, sorry, I mean 'bites'. ;) It's so cool to read what chapters you've liked the most. Glad to read that 15 was one of those, and I hoooope this one was filled with some spice!) ;) and wolf116 (Firstly, so nice that you reviewed all three! :) On 13th: Thank you kindly! *lol* After reading your kiss comment I had to go back and read that part myself, just to refresh my memory and what the hell WAS she thinking?! *smirk* And being Spike's slave - now, don't get me into these strange and cruel thoughts of pleasurable torment because I have just gotten out of a longterm obsession! *snicker* On 14th: I am more than pleased that you liked it! And yeah, let's have Buffy a bit more sensible here, don't you agree? *smile* On 15th: I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm so, so glad! I can't tell you how glad I am that you're liking it still, as it is, as it forms, as it gets put down on paper...sorta. ;) And I LOVE it how I make you thiiiink! It's the best part. How about THIS chapter. Did it make you think? *smiles with mild evil*) ;)

All of you, your comments sustain me, your words are my air and constant inspiration! As a writer I could go on and on with prose on how much you guys have me addicted to this love for you, but I shall not. Moving on. ;)

To In the Dead of the Night readers - I know there are at least a few of you out there - (Xio...) :) I am so sorry that it's gone over a week passed the deadline I so firmly set for myself. But I have been struggling to get back into it and I haven't had time to read through it and THIS story is just screaming at me to finish it and so I must! I will tend to my sleeping baby as soon as I possibly feel the tug to, but I cannot force it. In fact, I refuse to. I know what hazardous results forcing words out of you can have. (I have notebooks and I feel sorry for them.)

Also, there has been mild implications to spoilirish contents in the reviews, and God knows I love to hear your thoughts, but just not on Angel. I don't want any spoilers what so ever, I am already scared out of my wits as it is. I can't stand to know any more than I know now - which is a pretty little Nada sitting on my lap - and so PLEASE, don't tell me, don't hint at telling me, don't mention it! I actually don't want to know what is happening on the show either, no matter how much based in reality it is as is has actually aired. I'm just not 'ready' or what you will. Thank you for your kindness.

I LOVE YOU! Thank you. good night!

a.m.l, a.