First, I totally love this story. Seriously. Second, I am totlaly impressed by your research on Redondo Beach, a place I've lived my entire life until last year. There are a couple of nits, but mostly you have it pretty right. The Strand is actually, for those who live there a long time, no further south than Hermosa Beach. It would end at the Redondo Marina and pier. The cement walk and bike path that picks up on Torrance Beach (which is where Buffy and Spike are hanging out technially, that beach isn't actually called Redondo Beach even though that is where it is and Torrance doesn't reach the water), was never called The Strand by us who lived there. But recently newcomers and real estate agents etc have for their own reason appropriated the name for that part of the path so it makes perfect sense for Buffy and Spike to refer to it that way since neither are native to the area and would just say what they are told. So I'm fine with that, it makes it kinda realistic in a weird way. Anyway, you make me homesick. I'm all Oregon mountains now and miss the sand and dolphins and stuff. As for the story, what a wonderful love story. I wait anxiously for every update. Thanks for shairng it with us.

Author's Response: Cool! Thanks for the kind words and on the story itself and on my research. While I spent much of my time at Huntington, Newport and Doheny, I can only remember being in Redondo a few times. So much research was done on the area. And even though the stretch of beach in that area is very thin, I couldn't help imagining it like Huntington. LOL! And you might get a kick out this. I mention that Dirk works at Stranded, a nightclub that I made up. And that it was owned by a radio DJ. I was imagining The Poor Man from KROQ owning it. LOL! I know he hung out in that area alot. And now I've totally dated myself. And how I long for the lazy summer days, hanging out with my friends (when I actually looked hot in a bikini), drooling over the surfers, including my now husband, who rarely has time for surfing anymore. And if you really want to nitpick, :) you could point out that I situated their apartment building one over from where it really it and got rid of a shorter building that is by the stairs. I wanted their apartment building to be right at the top of the stairs where Buffy could see him entering the building. Thanks for reading!

I could see this happening and I understand why it is happening it doesn't make it any better to read it happening the angst between Buffy and Spike it hurts. As much as they both must understand the reasons for each other's feelings and they whys it still hurts to see two people who should be together not and you never know when something might happen like death to make the anger seem so stupid. But at the same time it is good to see Buffy having to do a little chasing for a change.

Author's Response: Yep. But you are right, it's good to have Buffy doing the chasing. That is what I wanted for this fic. Thanks so much for reading.