Love how you fast forward all the events of the series to end up here -

Excellent Christmas Story - very nice twist on his chip and his getting his soul - it is a very good alternative storyline -

 Sequel!  Sequel!! Sequel!!!

I loved the story!  It had a good story arc.  I adored your characterizations of Buffy, Dawn and Spike.  Their personalities felt real and true.  And now, I am off to read more of your stories!!

"And it's because you don't know how wrong that is..."  And now he does....there is the problem and why in S7 he didn't dare pursue her.  He suddenly saw himself through HER eyes no longer realizing how wrong her view was.  Same when he returned at least where she was concerned.

Excellent story with good believable voices and behavior throughout.

Kathleen

This is a fantastic fic. You do a great job of being true to the characters as they were in B5 -- and making Spike's decision to seek redemption totally plausible... and maybe even more inspiring than the one we saw on the series. Also, by setting this relatively early in B5, Buffy's closed heart and mind make much more sense -- so her 'bitchiness' is not as annoying as it usually is. More heartbreaking, because we can see why she doesn't see, even as we see how much better things would be if she somehow could see. Would love to see how things evolve -- but you've brought Spike and Buffy to a place where things have a chance to develop in a healthy way. Big thumbs up on this! Now: can we get an update to Dreidel? :)

Poor Spike. At least he finally gets his crumb, after finding out that he really can't be good on his own, and then doing something about it. At least Buffy didn't throw him out. Did Buffy ever find the Christmas Star he stole for her last year? Would tie things together nicely.

Well, that was...awkward. In a good characterization way, not the actual storyline or the writing. Awkward was actually appropriate for those two at that time.

Is that it? Is that the end? I gotta say, I do like that better then last chapter's ending, but it did come off as kinda abrupt. Well, if it is the end, the story was good, definitely funny. Are you thinking of a sequel?

Interesting turn of events.

The guy's actually average height, you know. It's not like Spike was only 5'6". And Dawn was still shorter than Buffy in Season 5. :)

Liked the resolution - the uncertainty with hope. Good story.

You DO know that this DEMANDS a sequel, right? Oh I did love this short treasure. Even if you don't follow it up it is a winner on all levels. Beautifully done.

Kathleen

Great fic! Thoroughly enjoyed it.