Love the conversations between them. They're profound, but done in a light manner that gives the story speed. Great job.

This is a very interesting story but there are two things that are causing problems. The first problem is that you're rushing. In three short chapters you’ve skipped over a great deal of time. This is compounded by the fact that Buffy has gone through great changes during the period. The reader is left scrabbling to understand how Buffy has matured from the girl we knew in Season 3 to who she is now. There is no sense of progression. This leaves the rest of the story (particularly her acceptance of Spike) somewhat unbelievable. This is mostly due to the second problem. In these three chapters you've told the reader what has happened. You haven't shown them. This robs the story of immediacy and a sense of realism. What you really needed to do is follow Buffy's travels as if they were happening, rather than writing about them as if they were a diary entry or reflection. You don’t have to spend chapters doing this but more insight into Buffy’s experiences and travels is essential. I strongly suggest that you go back and give the background and foundation that this plot deserves. You have a good idea and you're a good writer. It’s just that you’ve leapt into the body of the story and have forgotten how important the introduction is.

Author's Response: I understand your point about rushing the natural progression of the story but I also had two specific problems to contend with. The first being many readers, hate waiting for the main characters to meet. In outlining the story I planned out a chapter detailing Buffy's character progression during her travels but in the end I decided against including it. We were shown how Buffy matured during her trip to LA as Anne on the show and once she returned to Sunnydale her belief in herself lapsed. With Giles and the Scoobies, she didn't have to have all the responsiblitiy for her choices and it was easy for her to allow them to led her...until Angel's return. That's when she once again started to show us her more mature and adult side.
Which leads me to the second problem, I am creating a Spuffy story during a time when she is consumed by Angel. His defection is the catalyst for her decision to re-discover herself but she can't just leave because of him or else it portrays her as trying to run which she is not. Her thoughts in the opening of the first chapter show her dependency on Angel and her confortation with her mother, shows her a side of him she refused to see before. Faced with such a harsh truth about his character, it strengthens her need to understand who she is without him or the rest of her friends. I tried to show her evolution by her becoming attached to Brenna in Ireland, her repaying the kindness the woman gave her by helping her around the inn...something a less mature person would have overlooked. Many people, despite their age have gotten lax about responding to the kindness of others, they either take it without giving anything back or they offer cash as a thank you, which is less sincere and impersonal.
As for my ultimate decision to show that through reflection, it's because she's not the only one trying to find herself. Both her and Spike are cut adrift and thier past experiences closely echo each other. Basically neither one knows their self-worth and together they help each other see the greatness and strength they both posess. Buffy can see parts of herself in Spike and their first meeting is not the first time she discovers there is more to him that what meets the eyes...she already learned that during her brief alliance with him. Now that she is more or less free from her role as the Slayer, it's understandable that she is allowing herself to explore that side of him. She's still a Slayer but since the Powers have released her from her fealty, it's not such a big moral dilema.She can spend time with him without wondering if she is failing her role as a Slayer. Basically both Spike and Buffy will evolve together which will be covered well before the inevitable meeting with their pasts. Thank you so much for the feedback, it's often helps to be able to discuss the overall theme of the story and my motivations behind it!