Yes, that makes sense, thanks. Getting the soul is a big sorry, and I guess that's why it bothers me that it wasn't acknowledged more clearly by Buffy, etc. That he made an effort to *get* it, not just that he had it. I also think there is a difference between offering regret and expecting forgiveness. I don't believe Spike expected forgiveness, but it shouldn't have prevented him from expressing sorrow.

Eh, don't mind me. I think this speaks more to a pet peeve that I have about some people being incapable of saying the words "I'm sorry." There are numerous examples of people getting caught in some scandal, and instead of simply saying, "I'm sorry, I screwed up," they turn it around to make themselves the victim, or to blame someone else, or simply blow it off as nothing. As Clem would say, I have issues.