Don't sweat the time it has taken to move forward with the story.  You're still working on it, and that is what matters.  Others would have abandoned it a long time ago.  We know life is complicated.  We all have lives.  When folk write fanfic, one of the parts of the contract with us readers is that we have to recognize that you're living life and no one's paying you to do this, something that is often a considerable investment of time and energy.  So we need to be patient.  And you need to keep coming back, even if it takes half a decade...  I know this personally... I have 26 stories, but not all of them are finished... In fact, a few have languished for a while... one just has to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep on trying. (Eagles)

For you, something to keep you dancing (and writing):

"...Keep it coming, love, keep it coming, love
Don't stop it now, don't stop it, no
Don't stop it now, don't stop it

Don't let your well run dry
Don't stop it now..."  keep it coming - KC and the Sunshine Band

________

Buffy's in a state of serious denial...  'she's got it bad, and that ain't good...'
Spike knows just what he feels... and that he may be on his own.

Buffy and Spike:

"You can't sleep, you can't eat
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another kiss is all you need

Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love" 

Addicted to love - Robert Palmer
(if you haven't watched it, you should see the original Robert Palmer music video)

Anya: She's got a rough road ahead unless Xander realizes something from this mess.  She's letting herself recongize it, and that's good... poor girl!

"Hard to be sure
Sometimes I feel so insecure
And love so distant and obscure
Remains the cure

All by myself
Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore

When I was young
I never needed anyone
And makin' love was just for fun
Those days are gone..."  All by myself Eric Carmen
 

Great to see you started writing on this one again - glad to see you are active again - 

OK, so I was wrong. Buffy has dived straight back into Denile. Feeling a little sorry for Anya....

Nice use of songs, particularly Buffy's interaction with Dawn.  My favourite line -- And despite the fact that his eyes really looked amazing, Xander was distinctly uncomfortable.