I wish I could find the right words to tell you how much I love your story. I love Buffy and Spike's tentative, small steps towards each other. I love the mood, the plot, I love your brilliant occasional breaks through the fourth wall.

I'm a bit surprised by Xander's hostility. At the end of season 7 they were pretty civil to each other, and season 8 gained Spike more points as a friend rather than an enemy.

I wonder if it's a set-up for a further plot twist... *runs off to read the next chapter*