He is a persistent bugger isn't he? She needs that. Someone has to push her past her grief.

So grandma knows who she's been spending time with huh? Doesn't sound like she disapproves. Ah, saved from a pushy guy. Yup that'll start a conversation.

Author's Response: I was hoping that would be a good start off :)

I'm surprised Spike didn't kill that guy right there in the diner!

Just like the two of them. Fighting over who was more worried about the other.

Grown up adult thoughtful Xander. Can I just say holy crap! I love it. It took him long enough to admit his mistakes. Hopefully now he will stop the mutiny that is coming!

Author's Response: You\'d think - but instead, I imagine he\'ll be overruled. Still, at least Buffy has one friend.

At the least the images of Dawn and Spike hurting themselves snapped her out of it. I completely understand coming back was horrible. Losing that sense of peace completeness from heaven has to totally suck. But she's here and unless she lets herself get killed she has to reengage with the world and start to live again. Her friends aren't helping and the two people innocent in all of this who love her the most are suffering the most.

Author's Response: Yeah, she\'s been through some tough times and hurt the people who care about her. Things will get better though for all of them though. :)

Its a very bad idea. Willow should have been banned from magic years ago. The Council thinks Buffy is dead? How'd they pull that off? Or did I miss something?!

For Buffy is almost ready to admit she is falling in love with Spike. I think his actions alone lately are a clear indicator of how he feels for her. He wouldn't have brought just anyone to his human home. To lay himself bare like that means she is important to him. Very important. I'm glad to see her time in a cage made her better understand what happened to Spike in Sunnydale. Some empathy would have been nice back then. But she has some now and that's all that matters. The chip needs to come out. What's going on right now shows that clearly. What happens when Buffy is too big to fight? It's humans after them and if she is 8 months pregnant she won't be kicking any butt. Spike needs to be able to defend himself, her, Alex and the baby.

The fact that that one incident still haunts him 120 years later says a lot for the kind of vampire he is. Spike might not give a rats ass about every single person in the world like a slayer would but for those he does care about causing them harm is the last thing he would ever want to do. I can understand what motivated him to do it though. He felt great after he was turned; strong, fast and full of life and he wanted to give that to his mother whom he still loved and who was dying. The intent was admirable even though it didn't work the way he intended.

I can see this from both sides and they need to talk. Buffy is afraid of what she might be carrying and Spike just wants a family. Regardless of what Buffy does about the pregnancy Spike does have a family. Alex is his. She might be from another dimension but he is the only father she will ever have. Her Spike is dead and not coming back. Those two need to bond and maybe the pain, if Buffy terminates the pregnancy, of losing the new child will fade knowing he still has her.

Author's Response: Thanks! I was a little worried about bringing it up, but I thought that there was no way it would not go through her head!

So the inside guy managed to get a message out. At least he isn't buying the story about curing vampires. What crap. I hope Raj remembers to check for messages! Nice take down Buffy. I would be insulted too!

That would be the one place they would be safe. The Watcher's Council had him down as a ruffan and thief when he was human. Spike covered his tracks well when he was first turned.

I always wondered why Connor's birth didn't trigger the soul.