Author's Choice by rana +18
Responses: 0
Categories: Alternate Reality, Season 6
Characters: None
Summary:

Spike left Sunnydale at the end the battle with Adam, not wanting to wait for the Slayer to realize his role - seeing as she might consider it betrayal. He also needs to get that pesky chip removed so he'll be ready when she does come after him. He's on his own, flying solo.

Two years later, Buffy is back from the dead. On the ride back to Sunnydale, after a not so helpful meeting with Angel, she sees a home for rent in the countryside and comes to a realization. She will never be able to heal if she has to be the slayer on the hellmouth. If just living is hell, living on the mouth of hell is the worst place to overcome her death wish. So Buffy packs up herself and Dawn and they leave Sunnydale and the Scoobies behind. She's died twice and owes them and the world nothing.

While monitoring the nightlife of her new town, Buffy comes across Spike. Only time hasn't been any kinder to him than it has to her. Spike looks as broken on the outside as she feels on the inside...and that is just wrong. So making a rash decision, Buffy calls a truce, sets some ground rules, and brings Spike home to crash with her and Dawn.

What has Spike been doing and what happened to him since Sunnydale? Can Buffy and Spike heal themselves and each other? Will Dawn worm her way into Spike's unbeating heart? How will the Scoobies and other buffyverse characters respond to their self-made family? 

I would love to see Faith in this story, reconciled with Buffy and backing her. 

Don't want too much Scooby bashing, but they aren't forgiven right away. Their relationships might be fixed, but no guarantee.

Up to the author how much of S6 to follow or to go completely AU.