Maybe I'm biased, but I never really saw Riley as the kind of guy to spend hours on the pre-show, eh? I'm thinking, even if she did really straight-up adore the guy, there'd be serious chaffing, ya know?

I'm so pleased you enjoyed this. Once I switched the focus from Spike to Buffy, it really took off. It was great fun to include the gang, especially Joyce. Those little hints we get of her social visits from Spike are so intriguing, pointing up his Victorian upbringing and her need for adult conversation. (I could never figure out why she and Giles continued to act like kids with hands caught in the cookie jar, post-Band Candy. Silly.)

Thanks for the very nice comments. It means so much to hear it from you.