Bad Blind Buffy! Getting a bit upset at her with all of this "Spike needs a soul" nonsense. Don't blame her at all for needing to work through what Spike (the big stupid head) sprung on her about Dawn but thinking that a soul is the answer? Bad Blind Buffy...open up your eyes so you can really love Spike. Spike managed not to hurt Dawn even without his memories of her. Buffy thinks it herself right here..."His arms were not a prison around her sister's delicate frame but an unbreakable protective circle, his possessive growl claimed her as his, but not as prey, for she was his, his to love, to care for and most of all to protect. His Dawn, his little bit, no demonic instinct could overcome the unremitting protectiveness of his affection. He had proved it already, even with all memories of her eclipsed from his mind, still his heart had known"...I might add that you have Buffy think it rather gorgeously too. Would a souled Spike without memories yet fed a diet of hate by the Evil a Foot have attacked Dawn at all? Hmmm...Oh no...now I am having soul having thoughts. Spike is tearing himelf up enough...he doesn't seem to need a soul to do that at all. Spike is acting very much like his soul having self to me. If only Spike would regain his confidence/memories so that he can see his actions in a straight forward Spike way. Why wasn't he bothered by his actions with Dawn before Buffy/Buffy memories got involved? Could Buffy be acting as his soul? I really thought that Buffy had straightened out her "having a soul solves everything" thinking. Buffy redeemed herself a bit when right in front of Spike(whoo hoo)she stood up to Angel being his big old control freak self. I admit that the woman in Buffy is trying...think maybe it is the Slayer in Buffy that refuses to trust Spike's demon. Speaking of Spike's demon...Whew...Spike bite...lucky oops I mean poor Dawn. Time for battle with the Evil a Foot. OH no...a sense of forboding & unease coupled with nervous knots in the stomach is never good...never. Trying to scare me? You know this just makes me want the next chapter that much more, right? Of course, you do. This may have been my longest babble yet.