I wonder now how I missed tamingthemuse when there's so many good stories there.
Aren't there just? I read a load of them every week and really enjoy the variety.
I'm so pleased you have enjoyed this story, so far. I hope you continue to do so. I've wanted to write this story for a couple of years, but it died on me when I first started it.
Watching the first season, I saw how Jesse was panting after Cordelia, while Xander was oblivious to Willow's attraction to himself and I thought about how people grow up at different rates and that was the start.
As for Spike, it seemed to me that an experienced vampire must use charm and wiles, more than violence, in the Joss 'verse, the glimpses of Angelus we saw in flash backs suggested it, so Spike playing Xander was a logical progression.
Thank you again for your lovely comment. I really appreciate it.