Poor guy. When I started writing this, it was from Spike's perspective, but he was having such a terrible year that it just got me down. Plus, I really wanted to have everybody put their two cents in, and they seemed more likely to speak freely with Buffy. I was really happy with Joyce, here. She's talking to Buffy with a bit more of an adult perspective, but she's still doling out the mothering. Which poor Buffy really needed just then!

Thanks so much for commenting. All the other comments for this story are over at seasonal_spuffy (or Bloodshedverse, before it ate the story!). I had some edits I really liked on BSV too, durn it all!