So good!

She didn't realize just how important to her he was until he wasn't there anymore. If they had been blood siblings okay then I could understand. But they weren't, her mom married his dad. They were only related by marriage. Not only that but they live 3000 miles away from anyone who knows that and could cast judgement on them. You love who you love it's that simple. And you either fight for it or not. If not you are going to have a lonely life.

Author's Response: Yes Buffy has learnt that she loves who she loves and there's no fighting her and Spike. They've both stood up and said they want to be together no matter what in the end. I may be reading too much into it but it seems that frustrates you, that it took so long to realise? I hope I made it a little bit more complicated along the way than the easy decision you seem to see it as. Firstly they may not be blood, but they grew up together and whether they truly felt it or not, from her being around 6 or 7 Buffy was told by the people around her that Spike was her brother, she called him that all her life, hence the struggles in Protect Me From What I Want. In Protege Moi the family was the struggle. Yes they may live miles away from them, but what does that matter? She knew her mother wouldn't approve and they share a blood related sister who also didn't approve of them...thats a big deal no matter how far away they are! Buffy's family is VERY important to her and always has been, so if they didn't accept it it would be a major blow to her happiness. It might not be true for others, maybe you, definitely me (I don't care what my parents want me to do), but it DID matter to Buffy if her family judged her...just had to get that across because it seemed you missed a bit of Buffy's conflict (obviously a fault in my writing).