Why does Spike love Buffy?

I finally figured out one of the hold-ups on finishing the fanfic I'm currently working on.  I've worked out many elements in the story and try to think through character motivations (even if all of them may not be explained within the story), but I have a tendency to accept "Spike loves Buffy" as a given.  I don't think this works best storywise.  I need more.  I want more.  I need (just for myself) some concept of why.  

After much pondering I think I have found an answer to what makes the Spike within this story continue to love Buffy or (perhaps) he's falling for her again (I don't feel the need to make a distinction between the two.)  But I did find it to be an interesting question to ponder.

I know how I mentally framed his falling for Buffy the first time, but -- for me at least -- those reasons have fallen away and wouldn't be valid in a post-NFA world (especially 20 years post-NFA).  Why he fell the first time made sense at that point in time, but through the arc of the show what first drew him to Buffy wouldn't be what would draw him again  (and it is post-NFA I'm talking about)

... Or would it?  

Dunno. 

It seemed to me that a great deal of Season 7 was Spike learning to let go of Buffy and of the dream of her ever loving him in return.  So much so, in fact,  that when she finally said the words, he was beyond believing them.  So it's a quandry for me.  What about Buffy that he loved would draw him again?  I figure that he will always love her (just as he will always love Dru), but I had thought that he went beyond the place of simply being in love with her.  In my head, he fell and, after a great deal of effort, he got back up again.  

Anyway, I think I may have found the answer I need for this particular story (and I'm fair. Buffy's feelings for Spike cannot be taken as a given either.  I need more than 'just cause.' ) It's just that, with Spuffy, I tend to work towards making Buffy fall for Spike while "Spike loves Buffy" seems pretty much written in stone.  So, just out of curiousity, I thought I'd pose a question at large  -- why did Spike love Buffy?  

Having been around the fandom for a while, I know that there are as many answers to this question as there are posters, but I'm curious.  Why do you think he fell for her or thought he fell for her?  What about her was so compelling to him that it became integral to who he was?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Why does Spike love Buffy?

I finally figured out one of the hold-ups on finishing the fanfic I'm currently working on.  I've worked out many elements in the story and try to think through character motivations (even if all of them may not be explained within the story), but I have a tendency to accept "Spike loves Buffy" as a given.  I don't think this works best storywise.  I need more.  I want more.  I need (just for myself) some concept of why.  

After much pondering I think I have found an answer to what makes the Spike within this story continue to love Buffy or (perhaps) he's falling for her again (I don't feel the need to make a distinction between the two.)  But I did find it to be an interesting question to ponder.

I know how I mentally framed his falling for Buffy the first time, but -- for me at least -- those reasons have fallen away and wouldn't be valid in a post-NFA world (especially 20 years post-NFA).  Why he fell the first time made sense at that point in time, but through the arc of the show what first drew him to Buffy wouldn't be what would draw him again  (and it is post-NFA I'm talking about)

... Or would it?  

Dunno. 

It seemed to me that a great deal of Season 7 was Spike learning to let go of Buffy and of the dream of her ever loving him in return.  So much so, in fact,  that when she finally said the words, he was beyond believing them.  So it's a quandry for me.  What about Buffy that he loved would draw him again?  I figure that he will always love her (just as he will always love Dru), but I had thought that he went beyond the place of simply being in love with her.  In my head, he fell and, after a great deal of effort, he got back up again.  

Anyway, I think I may have found the answer I need for this particular story (and I'm fair. Buffy's feelings for Spike cannot be taken as a given either.  I need more than 'just cause.' ) It's just that, with Spuffy, I tend to work towards making Buffy fall for Spike while "Spike loves Buffy" seems pretty much written in stone.  So, just out of curiousity, I thought I'd pose a question at large  -- why did Spike love Buffy?  

Having been around the fandom for a while, I know that there are as many answers to this question as there are posters, but I'm curious.  Why do you think he fell for her or thought he fell for her?  What about her was so compelling to him that it became integral to who he was?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Why does Spike love Buffy?

I finally figured out one of the hold-ups on finishing the fanfic I'm currently working on.  I've worked out many elements in the story and try to think through character motivations (even if all of them may not be explained within the story), but I have a tendency to accept "Spike loves Buffy" as a given.  I don't think this works best storywise.  I need more.  I want more.  I need (just for myself) some concept of why.  

After much pondering I think I have found an answer to what makes the Spike within this story continue to love Buffy or (perhaps) he's falling for her again (I don't feel the need to make a distinction between the two.)  But I did find it to be an interesting question to ponder.

I know how I mentally framed his falling for Buffy the first time, but -- for me at least -- those reasons have fallen away and wouldn't be valid in a post-NFA world (especially 20 years post-NFA).  Why he fell the first time made sense at that point in time, but through the arc of the show what first drew him to Buffy wouldn't be what would draw him again  (and it is post-NFA I'm talking about)

... Or would it?  

Dunno. 

It seemed to me that a great deal of Season 7 was Spike learning to let go of Buffy and of the dream of her ever loving him in return.  So much so, in fact,  that when she finally said the words, he was beyond believing them.  So it's a quandry for me.  What about Buffy that he loved would draw him again?  I figure that he will always love her (just as he will always love Dru), but I had thought that he went beyond the place of simply being in love with her.  In my head, he fell and, after a great deal of effort, he got back up again.  

Anyway, I think I may have found the answer I need for this particular story (and I'm fair. Buffy's feelings for Spike cannot be taken as a given either.  I need more than 'just cause.' ) It's just that, with Spuffy, I tend to work towards making Buffy fall for Spike while "Spike loves Buffy" seems pretty much written in stone.  So, just out of curiousity, I thought I'd pose a question at large  -- why did Spike love Buffy?  

Having been around the fandom for a while, I know that there are as many answers to this question as there are posters, but I'm curious.  Why do you think he fell for her or thought he fell for her?  What about her was so compelling to him that it became integral to who he was?  Inquiring minds want to know.