It's really interesting and touching to see Joni in bitty-slayer mode, looks like Joni is privy to almost everything now. Poor girl has so much on her little shoulders. :( And maybe it's nothing but Joni's headaches are kind of worrying me, slayer dreams shouldn't hurt. I hope it's not anything bad... unless it's a Cordelia type of thing? Beautiful closing father/daughter interaction, I really love these moments between the two. Wonderful update, Wendy!

Author's Response: You're right---dreams shouldn't hurt, but this is something a little more than that. Remember, in the story before this, how Spike reacted to Joni's fate, once he truly understood it? Well, consequences are now coming into play here, and not all of them are pretty.