Oh, wow. That must be dust in my eyes -- *blink* -- because, what you said? Is exactly what I meant. I have such Spike-love that I know I sometimes fall into the trap of writing him like a big ole sap who just happens to have a funny diet and a sun allergy. So I wanted to try writing him as the paradoxical tangle that he really is -- evil, cruel, selfish, wonderful, needy, loving, broken -- and still keep on loving him. But I knew people might not respond well to it, and I'm just so happy that you did.

Thank you, thank you.