That sounds just like them. The ending, in particular, is just right.

 *ouch*  Poor Spike, I hate bitchy Buffy, even though I understand her... It's just hard to watch/read Spike being so abused, when I just want to cuddle him.

Ouch....that last barb by Buffy hurt!  Yes this could easily have happened in S6.  He was right too...she was lying to herself the whole time.  That was proven with her Freudian slip in S7 ("Why does everyone think I'm STILL in love with Spike?")...she really missed the boat didn't she?

Kathleen

You nailed Bitch Buffy and I love  "who was she kidding, after all?".  Definitely a power play with Spike being the poor victim.  

Don't ya just want to smack Buffy... Can I see a show of hands... I thought so. 

Thanks for sharing...  Poor Spike.

Beautiful and sad and angsty and... Damn, I just loved it^^.
Great job ;) :)

So well done. I suppose we all know it, but the Spike you've drawn here has zero problem with commitment. He's all set to move right in and never leave. Isn't that exactly what Buffy always thought she wanted? The real dirty secret is that she does want it, but she won't let herself have it.

“Nice little present for you to come home to.”

It's so hard watching her hurt herself this way. No wonder he keeps trying.

Thanks for sharing that brief little interlude. Like Buffy, it left me with a little ache in my chest.

that look of smug pride. - Spike as always, his own worst enemy.  Nice knotty little piece.  You've captured the meanness of Buffy and Spike's backlash when he's hurt.

Sad little piece, very true to canon in season 6. If only once she'd... {sigh}
I came to think that if Spike had only stood up to her a bit more as he tried to in 'Gone' things might have gone very differently.
Yes well, we can all dream... that's what fanfic is all about!

He reached up and took hold of her wrist, unfolding her arms and drawing her down into his lap. He still said nothing and she opened her mouth to berate him – but he pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her.

“Just pretend,” he whispered, eyes flicking over her face.

Oh, wow, that line!  Heartbreaking!

Great little story, fits perfectly in this season.

buffy the huge bitch, nothing new there, i honestly was hoping for once that spike would have chosen to leave her.