Exquisite chapter.  Between Tara (go Tara!) and Buffy (woo!) and Spike AND Buffy (aww!) I am a happy camper.

Oh, but to have a "friend" like Spike......a girl could dream!  Love this chapter, and I think the Willow part definetly fits this chapter, Buffy needs to get over this approval from eveyone else thing, and get admit to what she wants. 

Hee a trifecta of Willow ass kicking.  I loved it.  Hasn't Tara had just about enough of her?  Love the story.

Friends - a good start to a new chapter in their relationship. I like the way you have written Tara, if there was going to be one voice of reason it should be her, Tara could have been the balance in the scoobies if JW hadn't killed her off. The conversations have a nice ring to them, I can hear the intonation in my head of both Spike and Buffy. Loving this fic and looking forward to Drusilla's appearance.

Finally someone called Willow on her bullshit. Where does she get off decided what is best for someone else? I could understand her making decisions for others if it was a child of hers. But Buffy isn't a child and she certainly isn't Willow's child but Willow treats her like one and so does Xander. That isn't how friends behave, not real friends at least. Go Tara! I always knew she had it in her, she seems so shy and meek but she has an inner fire that she rarely unleashes. I love the Dawn stare of death. It always amazed me how they treated Spike in season 6. I mean all that summer when Buffy was dead it was perfectly fine for Spike to patrol and watch Dawn. But now that Buffy is back Spike is back to being a soulless killer worse than the gunk you scrape off your shoes? And they think Buffy should treat him that way too. He is dying, okay dislike him for all the bad he did for a 100 years. But also don't forget what he has done in the past few years. He has helped them and stayed after Buffy died and they seemed to be able to forget it happened. They would have probably been dead many times over if he had left when Buffy died.

At least things seems to be better and better for Buffy and Spike.

Nice slapdown for interfering Willow, I hope it lasts.  I love to see Buffy getting stronger like this and Spike telling her he won't take any more crap didn't hurt.  Nice chapter.

I knew Willow wouldn't be able to let it rest. Thank goodness for AssertiveTara! And the Willow situation gave Buffy the incentive to be honest with Spike about her feelings at last, and Spike rediscovers his backbone and refuses to be 'used' any more. A bit of straight talking works wonders! Can't wait for them to find Dru at last....