A sad sad ending for such a heroic efforts and love - but it fits Buffy's character and her always stated perspective and feelings for Spike - that she could never really love him without a soul and even with one, she could never fully accept him either. By the time of her "I Love You" it was all too late and too tragic.

Good christ that was excellent.
Good character voices, well thought out plot...just excellent.

I wish there were a whole lot more.

NO, I don't hate you at all! :) I love S6 because I connect with the depression story even though I know the season has flaws. (Which one doesn't?) So I know it takes longer than one week to get over crushing depression. But aside from that tiny detail, I'm really impressed with what you've done here - found a way to avoid the unpleasantness of the AR by having Spike get his soul before they have an affair/relationship is a brilliant solution.

Spike, Dawn and Buffy are very much in character for where they would be at that time, down to Buffy's reaction to his getting his soul. I disagree that she owes him anything for his declaration of love (for the rescue, yes); but it's not out of character for Buffy to think that. And I really REALLY love that you don't have her failing into his arms in the epilogue, but she does what she does best, beside Slaying - she reaches out and tries to help. I've read so many "Spuffy" stories that have her falling at his feet, and stories where he isn't the least bit evil anymore, that I'm burned out on the entire pairing, except in cases like this. These are the characters I saw on the show and loved, and I'm a fiend for fics that are true to canon characterization.

Also, the line where he images tearing her throat out and leaving her body under the tree is scary and funny - again, true to Spike of the show. Hello, evil vampire here.

She sent him away well I am glad he is back.

oh that was good.

oh that was good

Well, I kinda liked this a whole lot! The voices were perfect and I really thought you caught Spike and Dawn's relationship in the right way. She had to be annoying and he had to have wanted to hurt her occasionally. I mean, vampire yeah?

This epilogue was great, a wonderful spin on canon events. A lot of emotion and in the end ... hope.

Thanks for writing

Great story, Buffy's response seems very in character

Hate you? Not at all. This is exactly where Buffy would be at this timeline... she doesn't have any of Spike's later S5 heroism as evidence in his favor. And she's only barely accepting that she's been rescued and not kidnapped. Your Buffy voice is as good as your Spike voice. If it ended here I would not enraged.

That said, I'm glad there's more. *g*

I really liked this. I will be continuing to a perfect happy ending in my mind but this was just right for where they were at that time. A measure of hope. Good stuff.

So Buffy is still in denial... Spike can't love.
How sad that Buffy is so blind. And yeah, this would be a sad end too. *on to the last part*

Oh clever... Spike drugged Dawn with sleeping pills; otherwise he wouldn't have had a chance not to take her in to rescue Buffy. But he manage that well without Dawn's help. But Buffy doesn't know that. Ops... what a cliffhanger: Buffy staking Spike? I hope it doesn't come to that. ~ Till next part!

Hehe, fun to see Spike to try to be evil and Dawn ignoring it: Spike vamped out ~ get you something more Christmassy, a Santa hat. *gg*
I like the start of this one :)