I really love this. I will say, though, that this is proof that I don't really need the comics in my life, because I do think Buffy has grown beyond the obsession with Angel. I really don't think that by the time S7 rolls around that she's still really clinging to the idea of him much at all. Of course, she's still terrified of love because people always abandon her, but I just don't feel like it's all about Angel anymore. Of course, that's only interpretation, and lots of people would disagree with me. But still, the comics feel like regression to me because of this, and I'm just not interested in that.

But! Again, I'm really loving your reading of this and find it fascinating and interesting and I'm glad that it all came together for you and especially that you got your hope back because I hate seeing people be hurt by this. So: yay!